Conditions set in police food theft

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A former Honolulu Police Department detective hired later as a contract worker to help process prisoners in the main police station cellblock was granted a chance yesterday to avoid a permanent criminal record for theft.

John Spondike, 54, was one of four men, including two high-ranking police officers, charged with diverting food destined for prisoners and using it to feed police officers.

Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto yesterday granted a request to defer accepting Spondike's no-contest plea to second-degree theft. If he abides by conditions similar to probation for five years, the case will be dropped.

Spondike must repay the city $319 for lamb purchased in 1997 with money that was supposed to buy food for prisoners. Sakamoto also ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service.

City Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee argued that Spondike had no prior criminal record, had cooperated fully, waived indictment and was willing to testify at trial if needed.

"He was deserving of the deferral, in that he helped us go up the ladder to get to the central culprits," Lee said.

Former Assistant Police Chief Rafael Fajardo and former police Maj. Jeffrey Owens, 52, pleaded no contest to second-degree theft. Fajardo is to be sentenced April 29, Owens on June 24. Both are expected to ask that the court defer accepting their no-contest pleas.

Former civilian HPD food-service worker Ernest Villanueva pleaded guilty to second-degree theft in December 2001 and is to be sentenced in June.