Student gets probation for 'prank'
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
A nervous and tearful Daniel Copperud learned yesterday that he will not have to spend any time in jail for felony assault for hitting a golf ball that struck a high-school softball player in the mouth in February.
Photos by Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Copperud was sentenced yesterday by Circuit Court Judge Karl Sakamoto to five years probation.
Daniel Copperud, above, apologized to Amy Taniguchi for "the pain, shock and suffering" caused when he drove a golf ball into the UH softball stadium, hitting Taniguchi in the mouth.
The former University of Hawai'i student could have faced up to five years in prison after he was found guilty of the second-degree assault in August.
"I'm so, so sorry, I really am, for the pain, shock and suffering to Amy and (her) family," Copperud said during the hearing, attended by victim Amy Taniguchi.
Copperud's attorney Victor Bakke said a civil lawsuit settled Monday calls for Copperud to pay Taniguchi $85,000. Judge Sakamoto will render a decision soon on further restitution.
Copperud, 20, never denied hitting two golf balls from the rear of the Johnston Hall dormitory on Dole Street Feb. 2. The dormitory overlooks the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, where Iolani School was playing in the state softball tournament that day. Copperud told police that his intent was to reach the stadium, which is about 250 yards away.
One of the balls struck Iolani softball player Taniguchi in the mouth while she was standing in the dugout waiting to bat.
The blow knocked out one of Taniguchi's teeth, loosened others, bloodied her mouth, and forced her dentist to place braces on her upper teeth. A temporary tooth also was inserted to replace the missing tooth.
Since the trial that resulted in Copperud's assault conviction, Taniguchi has become a member of the UH Wahine softball team as a walk-on and has had to have four more teeth removed due to the incident.
Copperud's father, David, yesterday made an emotional plea to spare his adopted son prison time.
The elder Copperud said with a felony record, his son will not be allowed to vote or join the military and could be denied entry into some medical schools. He also cannot follow in his parents' footsteps and be given a teaching certificate in his home state of Minnesota.
He said the conviction is a "profound punishment in our community," and the assault was "terribly out of character. Daniel is a good person."
City Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima asked that Copperud serve a six-month sentence because Copperud had not shown remorse for the crime.
"He has not done enough," Tashima said. "Now it is too little, too late. The defendant needs to understand that this deed will not go unpunished."
Sakamoto said Copperud should not go to prison because of his good record prior to the incident and because investigators determined the assault was not intentional.
"The eyes of the state are on you partially because of the stupidity of your conduct and for the pain you caused," Sakamoto said. "Ripples of your conduct affect every member of our community."
Tashima said he was disappointed that no jail time was imposed, but said the judge's ruling was fair.
Copperud will return to Minnesota to continue his college education. He left the courthouse with his father's arm around him and made no comment.
"It was a prank. He was hitting golf balls and didn't expect to hit anybody and knock out their teeth," attorney Bakke said. "The question today was do we take a straight-A student and throw him in prison? He is as sorry as anyone can be."
