Latchum killer sentenced to life in federal prison

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

The wife and son of an Army helicopter pilot who was shot and killed while vacationing in Wai'anae three years ago told a federal judge yesterday that their lives are filled with a list of "nevers" as a result of the slaying.

Wendy Latchum, with her children, Josh, 11, and Breanna, 7, leave federal court following sentencing hearings for Roberto Miguel and Bryson Jose, convicted of murder in the shooting death of Army pilot John Latchum Jr. three years ago. Miguel was given life in prison, while sentencing for Jose is Dec. 18. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

And her husband will never have a chance to walk down the aisle with the couple's daughter Breanna, now 7, to give her away when the time comes.

The man Wendy Latchum described as "the family organizer and planner" was shot through the chest with a .22-caliber rifle bullet as he and Wendy stepped onto the porch of a rented beach cabin to chase away a group of young men the Latchums feared were trying to break in.

Yesterday, Wendy Latchum told federal Judge Helen Gillmor the last image the two children have of their father is of him laying in a pool of his own blood on the porch of the cabin, gasping for air.

Josh Latchum, 11, told Gillmor his father was a good man, and that he misses tossing baseballs and footballs to him.

Reading from a statement he wrote in pencil on a piece of white notebook paper, Josh Latchum told Gillmor: "I just wish this never happened so we could have a lot more good times together."

Gillmor sentenced Roberto Miguel, who fired the bullet that struck and killed John Latchum, to life in prison. The federal judicial system does not allow for parole, meaning Miguel will spend the rest of his life in prison. In addition, Gillmor sentenced Miguel to an additional 20 years, to be served consecutive to the life sentence, for using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and sentenced him to 10-year terms on each of two firearms violations.

Miguel, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, was among a group of young men who went to the Wai'anae Army Recreation Center the night Latchum was shot intending to take anything of value they might find on the cabin porch or to break into the cabin and rob its occupants.

A second man, Bryson Jose, 22, was convicted of murder in the case. Although he did not shoot Latchum, Jose was part of the criminal activity that led to Latchum's death and under federal law, was charged with felony murder in the case.

Wendy and Josh Latchum spoke at Miguel's sentencing hearing in the morning, while Wendy Latchum spoke again at Jose's sentencing in the afternoon.

John Latchum Jr. and his family were vacationing at the Wai'anae Army Recreation Center when a group of young men went there to rob cabin occupants. Advertiser library photo

"He was simply standing on the porch trying to defend his family," Latchum said. The couple's two children were asleep in the cabin when the shooting occurred.

Wendy Latchum described Jose as "a man without a conscience who has shown no remorse" for the death of her husband.

Neither Jose nor Miguel said anything to the Latchum family yesterday. Miguel addressed the court briefly, saying he realized the life sentence means he will be taken away from his family and Hawai'i forever.

"When I die, my soul will return to my family and to the island and then I will have everlasting freedom," Miguel said.

Outside the courthouse after the sentencing, Miguel's mother, Jerilyn Lopez, said her son has expressed regret to her about the shooting.

"He feels sad inside, but he won't show it," Lopez said. She said she wanted to apologize to the Latchum family for "this terrible tragedy."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Johnson, who prosecuted the case, said the sentence imposed by Gillmor "fits the crime." Johnson had asked Gillmor to sentence Miguel to back-to-back terms of life imprisonment, but she opted for a term of life plus 20 years.

Johnson said Miguel gave "no indication of remorse" nor did the statement Miguel gave in court show "any feelings for the victim or his family."

Because Jose announced last week that he no longer wanted attorney Donald Wilkerson to represent him, and because attorney Barry Edwards was appointed to take Wilkerson's place, the actual sentencing for Jose was put off until Dec. 18. Jose faces a mandatory sentence of life without parole.

Gillmor held a shortened version of the sentencing hearing for Jose yesterday so that Wendy Latchum and her two children, who now live in Florida, would have a chance to speak at hearings for both Miguel and Jose.

After the second court hearing of the day, Wendy Latchum said outside the courthouse that she does not plan to return to Hawai'i to see Jose sentenced in December.

She said the sentencing hearings "bring a sense of closure" to the legal portion of her family's tragedy.

"But the emotional part will never be over for us," she said.

She thanked a variety of military, civilian and governmental organizations for helping her and the children cope with her husband's death and resulting trial.

Among the groups she thanked were the Wai'anae Rotary Club and an organization called "Wai'anae Cares."

John Latchum's death shocked and saddened many Wai'anae residents and community leaders who had worked for years to improve relations between members of the military and Wai'anae residents.

Keala Leong, who pleaded guilty to attempting to burglarize the cabin the night Latchum was shot, faces a 10-year prison term when he is sentenced next month.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8030.