Benjamin Pada says he is a changed man, has found God and asked a judge yesterday for a chance at probation for starting a series of events that resulted in the death of a man in Waikiki one year ago yesterday.

Circuit Judge Steven Alm told Pada, 19, his apologies and expressions of remorse are too little too late. Alm sentenced Pada yesterday to 15 years in prison for second-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

    Judge Responds to Pada's Plea

 

 

A 19-year-old robber asked for leniency today due to his childhood abuse.

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“;Probation is for folks that I can trust to have a chance on probation and not have a demonstrated history of violence, which you have,”; Alm said.

Pada admitted that he kicked a Kaneohe Marine in the head on Waikiki Beach and stole his girlfriend's purse. Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Ikeda said Pada laughed as he ran away.

The Marine chased Pada and got into a fight with him and his friend Kelii Acasia.

After the Marine got his girlfriend's purse back and turned to walk away, Pada struck the Marine on the head with a wrench.

Bystander Ned Nakoa Jr. attempted to intervene, and Acasia punched him in the head, severing an artery in his neck which eventually killed him.

Acasia, 20, is awaiting sentencing after a jury found him guilty earlier this month of manslaughter.

Pada admitted yesterday that if had not stolen the purse, Nakoa, 58, would not have died. He apologized to Nakoa's family, who were in court for his sentencing yesterday.

“;I am sorry for my actions and the ending result of what I did. I truly am. I not heartless, I not one animal. I was on drugs,”; Pada said.

Alm also sentenced Pada to five years in prison, which will run at the same time as the other prison term, for assaulting a male nurse when Pada was a juvenile at Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility.

Alm acknowledged that Pada has had a tragic life. The state took custody of him when he was 3 after his mother, Kimberly Pada, tested positive for drugs at Kapiolani Medical Center when giving birth to another child.

A jury found Kimberly Pada guilty in 1999 of attempted manslaughter for causing injuries to another one of her sons, Reubyne Buentipo Jr., who remains in a vegetative state.

Alm said Pada was also abused.

But Alm said Pada's juvenile criminal record, which includes sexual assault, harassment, criminal property damage and assault, and his failure to respond to treatment and rehabilitation are his failure, not the system's.