Posted on: Thursday, October 10, 2002

'Ewa man pleads no contest in hit-run

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

An 'Ewa man faces a 10-year prison term after pleading no contest in Circuit Court yesterday to the hit-and-run death of a bicyclist on Fort Weaver Road last year.

Alfred J. Willard III was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident in which a person was seriously injured and one count of second-degree negligent homicide.

The death of Theron "Keoki" Nicodemus, 21, attracted attention because of community tips that aided the investigation of the March 7, 2001, accident.

The victim's relatives also went public to discuss their decision to donate Nicodemus' organs, honoring a wish he had expressed earlier.

The accident occurred at 12:45 a.m. when Nicodemus was hit from behind by a van that fled.

Nicodemus, whose girlfriend was pregnant with their son, worked at a warehouse in Mapunapuna. He had visited a friend in Pearl City after work and was on his way home when he was hit by the van, less than a mile from St. Francis Medical Center-West.

He died at 1:40 a.m. March 8. A Hawai'i girl received his liver, while his heart and kidneys were given to people on the Mainland.

Judge Marie Milks ordered Willard to appear for sentencing in her courtroom at 10 a.m. Jan. 21, 2003.