Man pleads guilty in Lihu'e airport shooting

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 24-year-old Kaua'i man who threatened security workers at Lihu'e Airport and fired two bullets into the ceiling last month faces a potential sentence of life in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to a federal charge of interfering with airport screening personnel.

Lloyd Albinio, of Kapa'a, told federal Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren that he went to the airport May 8, took the gun out, pointed it at a security officer, fired the gun twice into the ceiling and told people to get down on the ground.

Kurren set a sentencing date of Nov. 17 before federal Judge Susan Mollway. A hearing on a request by Albinio to be released from custody while awaiting sentencing will be held Thursday.

While Albinio could receive life in prison because of the federal charge, he will likely receive a much lighter sentence based on his clean record and the fact that no one was seriously injured during the incident.

Federal sentencing guidelines and a pre-sentence report will be used to determine how much time Albinio will be required to serve.

Federal Public Defender Peter Wolff Jr. said during a prior hearing that a Kaua'i psychiatrist who treated Albinio for four days after the airport incident concluded Albinio had experienced an "acute psychotic episode."

But Wolff said at that time that it was not clear if the incident resulted from Albinio's prior use of methamphetamines or from some other psychiatric problem.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Porter has opposed Albinio's release until it can be demonstrated that he is not a danger to himself or others.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.