Posted on: Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Mansho earns furloughs during holidays

Associated Press

Former City Councilwoman Rene Mansho was released from prison on two occasions in the past few months.

Mansho was released for 10-hour furloughs on Christmas and New Year's Day, state prison officials said.

Mansho, 53, has been locked up at the state Women's Correctional Center in Kailua since June 26.

She was sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation for her conviction on felony theft charges.

Warden John Kellam said Mansho was eligible for furlough because of her short sentence and because she's a nonviolent offender with no criminal history.

"She has never had any misconducts or difficulties with us in her adjustment," he said. "She's done positive things. She hasn't become involved in the negative things. She's worked, she's taken every assignment that we've given to her."

Kellam said Mansho is not getting any special treatment.

"She's not getting anything that her counterparts are not getting in the facility. No more. No less," he said.

Mansho lives in a dorm-style unit and works on a gardening detail, earning 25 cents an hour. She also helps at the prison's learning center.

Mansho resigned from the council on April 10, 2002, the same day prosecutors were to present their case against her to an O'ahu grand jury.

A city Ethics Commission investigation conducted while Mansho was in office had concluded she misused $148,000 of city money by having her staff perform Aloha Boat Days work, campaign tasks and other noncity functions.