Lawmaker pleads guilty
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
After pleading guilty to drunken driving, state Rep. Noboru Yonamine yesterday apologized for his mistake and said he will finish his term in the state Legislature.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Yonamine, D-35th (Pearl City, Pacific Palisades) pleaded guilty in 'Ewa District Court to driving drunk Feb. 8, his second drunken-driving offense since 1983.
State Rep. Noboru Yonamine and his lawyer talked yesterday before he admitted that he drove while drunk.
His license was suspended for 90 days by District Judge Barbara Richardson, who also sentenced him to 14 hours of alcohol abuse class, a $250 fine, driver training and criminal fees. He also must undergo an alcohol assessment program.
"I'm just sorry it happened," Yonamine told Richardson.
Yonamine earlier pleaded not guilty on the advice of his attorney but changed his plea to guilty. Yonamine, 66, said his attorney advised him to plead not guilty because it was routine in DUI cases.
"I feel very badly for what I've done," said Yonamine, who was flanked by attorney Pam Tamashiro. "I'm glad I didn't kill or injure anyone. I want to apologize to everyone."
Yonamine was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving on Feb. 8 on the H-1 Freeway. He failed a field sobriety test and his blood-alcohol level measured 0.134, above the legal limit of 0.08, police said.
After the arrest, Yonamine said he would resign his office, but he has since decided to serve the remainder of his term based on what he called positive feedback from his constituents.
Yonamine said he's received hundreds of telephone, e-mails, letters and personal visits in his support and "14 calls for me to resign," half of which he said were not from his district.
Yonamine said he will undergo counseling at Straub Clinic & Hospital and said he hasn't consumed alcohol since his arrest.
