Posted on: Thursday, July 8, 2004

Janitor sentenced in ID theft

Associated Press

HILO, Hawai'i — A former janitor at Kea'au High School is going to prison for using the identities of two of his co-workers.

Ricky Mesa was sentenced to five years probation and 80 days in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of ID theft. Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura said Mesa could serve his time on weekends.

Deputy Prosecutor Jason Skier said the sentence means Mesa will be able to work during the week so he can make restitution payments of money he obtained illegally.

Mesa's former co-workers at Kea'au High say the punishment isn't enough. School officials say Mesa quit his job at the school.

"Just a slap on the wrist ain't going to really scare him," said Robert Kobayashi, an educational assistant at the school whose identity was used by Mesa to apply for a $5,000 loan.