Posted on: Thursday, March 22, 2001

Verizon employees admit they got tee times illegally

By William Cole
Advertiser Courts Writer

Two longtime Verizon Hawai'i employees pleaded guilty this morning to unauthorized computer use, a felony, for using the company's computer system last year to block out other calls so they could make tee times for themselves and friends at city golf courses.

Harmon Lee, 54, and Lawrence Seu, 61, customer zone technicians working the overnight shift at Verizon, blocked incoming calls at least 11 times between March and August so they could pick their preferred tee times of 9 to 10 a.m. at courses including Ala Wai, West Loch, 'Ewa Village and Pali, prosecutors said.

As part of the plea agreement, the state will not seek any jail time or oppose a request for deferred acceptance of the guilty pleas when the two Mililani men are sentenced on May 11 before Circuit Judge Richard Perkins.

The agreement prohibits the men from playing golf at city golf courses for the five-year expected duration of the deferral. The prosecution also is requesting 250 hours of community service.

The two men, wearing golf shirts, did not comment following the hearing. Their attorney, Scott Collins, said, "They had no idea their conduct was criminal in nature _ maybe inappropriate." Collins said his clients apologize for what happened and are taking responsibility.

City Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee said the most severe sanction the two men will take is the golf prohibition.

"They are avid golfers and the greatest punishment to them is they can't reap the benefit of playing golf at city golf courses," he said.

Both men had worked at Verizon for about 30 years. Lee is on suspension and Seu has retired from Verizon, prosecutors said.