Ex-prosecutor
faces traffic courtCharles Marsland Jr. contests
a citation in a parking lot incident
Former city Prosecutor Charles Marsland Jr. was scheduled to go on trial today to contest a traffic citation for failing to report an accident at a Hawaii Kai shopping center.
At 1:30 p.m. Sept. 14, Marsland was parking his white 2000 Ford Crown Victoria at Hawaii Kai Towne Center when his car scraped the driver's side of a blue 1988 BMW owned by a Hawaii Kai resident, said state Deputy Attorney General Colleen Chun.
Attorney Darwin Ching, who is representing Marsland, said, "Marsland was unaware that he scraped the vehicle and proceeded into the barber shop to get his haircut."
Marsland parked his car and entered Fantastic Sams, Ching said. A witness at the store left a note on the BMW that another vehicle had caused the damage.
"The witness did not approach or tell Marsland that there had been an accident," Ching said.
Marsland was to appear before District Judge Christopher McKenzie at 1:30 p.m.
Marsland, 80, was the first elected Honolulu city prosecutor, serving from 1981 to 1989.
The city Prosecutor's Office declared a conflict of interest in the case; Honolulu City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle was Marsland's top trial deputy. The Attorney General's Office took over the case on Oct. 14.
Two weeks later, Ching pleaded not guilty for Marsland at his arraignment.
Damage to the BMW is estimated to exceed $1,000, Chun said.
Marsland was cited under the statute "duty upon striking an unattended vehicle or other property." According to the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the driver is required to immediately stop and inform the operator or owner of any damage. The person can also leave a note attached to the vehicle with his or her personal contact information and registration of their vehicle and notify the nearest police officer.
Marsland could be fined up to $200 for such a violation.
