UH may examine hiring process after coach's arrest
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i officials may start taking a closer look at the backgrounds of part-time employees after a University of Hawai'i-Hilo tennis coach accused of growing marijuana in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was found to have had two earlier drug convictions.
Laron Kortgaard, 45, who was hired by the University in February 2001, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on charges of manufacturing marijuana and intent to distribute it.
Because of Kortgaard's prior convictions, Michael Kawahara, assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting the case, said the coach faces a maximum of 30 years in prison if he is found guilty.
Kortgaard had been convicted of importing heroin from Thailand in 1994, and served part of a 10-year prison term before being granted supervised release shortly before he was hired by UH.
He was convicted in Alberta Canada in 1986 for possession of hashish with the purpose of trafficking, and spent two years in jail on that charge.
University of Hawai'i Vice President Paul Costello said that if Kortgaard had been hired as a full-time state civil servant, he would have been asked whether he had any prior convictions. Because he was hired as what the university terms a "casual hire," he was not asked.
"We'll probably have to take a closer look at part-time hires," Costello said. "It certainly raises the question: Do we need to ask this of all hires?"
Costello said because Kortgaard has been convicted of drug charges, the university will begin investigating the case Monday.
"We look at this as a very serious matter and appropriate action, including discharge if warranted, will be taken," he said.
Costello said UHH athletic director Kathleen McNally has taken over the duties of head tennis coach, and was at a meet in Florida with the team on Friday.
Kortgaard, who made $3,000 a year as coach and is being held without bail pending trial, is represented by the federal public defender's office. His lawyer, assistant public defender Michael Weight, said he did not want to comment on the case.
Kortgaard was arrested March 15 in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park after park rangers spotted him in one of two marijuana patches they had been watching since December 2001, according to an affidavit filed in court by a federal agent. A total of 90 plants were growing in the two patches, all of which had been planted in potting soil, fertilized and watered.
The affidavit said Kortgaard was arrested after he was spotted reaching for — but not taking — the bud of one of the plants. Kortgaard allegedly mumbled something about trails in the park leading everywhere and walked off. He allegedly did not stop when requested to do so by the rangers, and got into his truck and drove away.
He was arrested a few moments later on Mauna Loa Strip Road.
Search warrants served on his truck and home revealed used plant germination trays, watering jugs thought to have been seen at the marijuana patches earlier, a hat a marijuana harvester had been wearing when caught on videotape, and a "High Times" magazine, among other items, the affidavit said.
