Posted on: Saturday, April 13, 2002

Smiling Mansho booked in felony theft investigation

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

Honolulu police released this picture of ex-City Councilwoman Rene Mansho today. Honolulu Police Department

Former City Councilwoman Rene Mansho turned herself in to police yesterday afternoon at the Wahiawa police substation in connection with a felony theft investigation.

Police said she was fingerprinted and photographed at the request of a prosecution complaint. She was not charged, but is under suspicion of first- and second-degree theft, both of which are felonies.

For the booking photograph that will accompany her criminal record, Mansho smiled, wore a flower pin in her hair, a carnation-and-tuberose fresh flower lei and an American flag pin.

Mansho, 52, resigned Wednesday, the same day that city prosecutors were to take their case before an O'ahu grand jury.

Witnesses who were scheduled to testify said they were told the grand jury was called off because Mansho had agreed to waive indictment, be processed by police and face a court appearance next week.

City prosecutors have declined to describe any of the terms of a plea agreement between Mansho and their office. The first- and second-degree theft charges that she is under investigation for carry potential prison terms of up to 10 and five years, respectively.

Mansho showed up at the Wahiawa police substation about 1 p.m. and left about 20 minutes later. On Wednesday, Mansho said she was stepping down so that her "personal problems" would not distract the council from its business.

A Mililani resident, Mansho has represented the Waipi'o/Mililani/North Shore district since October 1988. But over the last year, her political role has been overshadowed by various allegations that she misused her city staff and campaign money. Most recently, she has been dogged by a citizens' drive to remove her from office.