Convicted robber asks
for a reduced sentence
A man seeking a reduction in his sentence for an armed robbery conviction will have to spend an additional seven years in prison before he can seek parole.
Chad Wilderman is currently serving a mandatory minimum of 10 years for using a firearm when he robbed two men near Leeward Community College in January 2001.
Wilderman's attorney, Keith Kiuchi, asked a judge yesterday to reduce Wilderman's mandatory minimum sentence based on his conduct in prison since his incarceration. Several corrections officers at Halawa submitted letters of support. Wilderman said he has found God and has changed for the better.
Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter opposed the reduction, arguing that the trial court acted within its discretion issuing the mandatory term and making it run consecutive to previous theft and burglary convictions.
Wilderman's case came under scrutiny in 2002 after the Department of Public Safety began investigating then-Paroling Authority Chairman Al Beaver Sr. over allegations he improperly attempted to obtain a commutation of Wilderman's sentence.
Beaver reportedly is a friend of the Wilderman family. Beaver allegedly ordered his staff to send the commutation request directly to then Gov. Ben Cayetano, bypassing the attorney general's office and Department of Public Safety, which by law reviews and make recommendations on every commutation application, prosecutors said.
Beaver's staff prepared the paperwork under continuing pressure from Beaver but recommended that the request be denied. The staff also reported the matter to Public Safety's Internal Affairs. Beaver was placed on administrative leave in November 2002 pending the investigation and resigned a year ago in lieu of termination.
The attorney general's office concluded that their investigation provided evidence that three convicted felons, including Wilderman, had benefited from Beaver's actions.