Beating victim pleads guilty to drug charges

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A former state prison guard who was awarded $317,000 in 1998 to settle a brutality case against Honolulu police officers pleaded guilty yesterday in Circuit Court to two drug charges.

Richard Doolin, 47, pleaded guilty to charges of possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the prosecution has agreed not to pursue two other drug charges against Doolin — a felony charge of drug possession, carrying a maximum 20-year term, and a petty misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana, said Earle Partington, Doolin's lawyer.

Doolin was severely beaten in the Honolulu Police Department's main cellblock in 1995 after he was arrested for allegedly violating the conditions of a temporary restraining order by telephoning his former wife.

Six Honolulu police officers who either took part in Doolin's beating or participated in a subsequent cover-up were eventually convicted in federal court of violating Doolin's civil rights.

Doolin pleaded guilty yesterday to two felony charges which both carry maximum 10-year prison terms. The charges were the result of Doolin's having a minor amount of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on him when he was arrested in a police sting operation, Partington said.

Doolin, a former guard at the Halawa prison, has no prior criminal record and has completed a drug treatment program, Partington said. The attorney said that Doolin could face up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in February, but he will ask that Doolin be placed on probation.

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