Advertiser Staff
Man sentenced in Maui gambling deal
An O‘ahu man with a lengthy gambling history yesterday was sentenced in federal court in connection with a sports bookmaking operation run for two years at the Department of Accounting and General Services’ Maui district office.
Although prosecutors recommended home detention based on his cooperation in the case, U.S. District Judge David Ezra sentenced Donald N. Morita to three months in a federal prison camp, saying he was "lectured to by judges over the years repeatedly, with absolutely no effect."
Morita in October 1999 pleaded guilty to conducting an illegal gambling business, prosecutors said. Authorities say Morita and two other O‘ahu men participated in the Maui bookmaking operation during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 college and professional football seasons.
Four state workers at the Maui office who either were working or were retired in 1999 were charged with gambling counts. Three other Maui residents also were charged. All pleaded guilty, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors say Morita had gambling convictions in state court in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. Morita’s attorney, John Yamane, said the fear of going to federal prison made his client learn his lesson.
"He has realized he cannot get involved in illegal gambling," Yamane said.
Two injured in crash at Nanakuli clinic
Two people were injured yesterday afternoon after an out-of-control car smashed through the lobby of a Nanakuli medical clinic.
The car, driven by a 77-year-old man, crashed through a glass window and a wall and landed inside the lobby of the Kaiser Nanaikeola Clinic at 87-2116 Farrington Highway shortly before 1:36 p.m., emergency officials said.
A 39-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were transported to the Queen’s Medical Center in serious and good condition, respectively, emergency officials said.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal property damage, police said. He was not hurt.
The clinic closed after the crash but was expected to reopen today.
Fire in dishwasher damages resort
HONOKOWAI, Maui — A fire in a dishwasher caused $100,000 damage to the Embassy Vacation Resort yesterday morning.
The fire was accidentally started by a worker at 7:29 a.m. and extinguished by firefighters 18 minutes later, said Alan Cordeiro, assistant chief with the Maui Fire Department.
The hotel evacuated the immediate area, Cordeiro said. No injuries were reported, and damage was confined to the commercial dishwasher and a ceiling.
Lawsuit filed against Diamond Head home
Several residents and a homeowners association filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court yesterday to halt the construction of a home on the eastern slope of Diamond Head that, at three stories, exceeds height restrictions, according to the complaint.
Aaron Kazuo Nada, Dawn Lynn Kishi and Loretta Goo Kishi are named as the registered owners of the property at 3857 Poka St. Also named as defendants are the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the city Department of Planning and Permitting.
The plaintiffs "and their aesthetic, privacy and financial interests are threatened and aggrieved" by the granting of a building permit for the construction of the home, the lawsuit states. The legal action is being taken by James Granzow, Stratford Whiting, Albert Wong and Clark Hatch, all identified as having homes in Diamond Head View Lots subdivision, and the adjacent East Diamond Head Association.
According to the complaint, the land department historically opposed construction above 15 feet on the slopes of Diamond Head View Lots subdivision, but now has changed its practices and does not enforce the height restrictions.
Kishi has said the home’s plan is within the law.
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