Female inmate enters plea of no contest to escape charge

Advertiser Staff

The second of two women inmates who escaped from the O'ahu Community Correctional Center on April 28 has pleaded no contest yesterday to a second-degree escape charge.

Michelle Padilla, 27, was being held at the correctional center while awaiting trial on charges of third-degree promotion of dangerous drugs and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia when she escaped with inmate Kimberly Takata. Padilla pleaded no contest to the two drug charges as well yesterday.

The two women were captured separately and within hours of each other on May 1. Takata, 33, pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree escape, and no contest to fraudulent use of a credit card, forgery, theft and identity theft charges.

Circuit Judge Marie Milks scheduled a sentencing hearing in Padilla's case for Sept. 2. She faces a term of five years on each of the three counts.

City Deputy Prosecutor Douglas Chin said after the hearing that the prosecution will likely ask for consecutive sentences in Padilla's case.

The Hawai'i Paroling Authority will decide how much time Padilla must serve behind bars before she is eligible for parole.