Life without parole sought for teen of Punchbowl shooting
By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer
A Waipahu teenager who went on a crime spree in late spring and early summer of 2003 should be sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole, city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle contends in documents filed in Circuit Court.
Miti Maugaotega Jr., 18, is scheduled to be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. Monday by Circuit Judge Patrick Border on charges including attempted murder, weapons, drug and multiple burglary, robbery and sexual assault charges.
MAUGAOTEGA
Life without parole is the stiffest prison term in Hawai'i and usually applied only to those convicted of killing two or more people in the same incident, or killing police officers, prison guards or other law enforcement officers.
Maugaotega was convicted of nine criminal counts in March, including attempted murder, for breaking into a Punchbowl home in June 2003 and shooting returning homeowner Eric Kawamoto in the chest at nearly point-blank range. Kawamoto has since recovered.
Carlisle said in court documents that Maugaotega should be given an extended prison term of life without parole because he is a danger to the public, has an extensive juvenile criminal history, continued to commit crimes despite prior contacts with the criminal justice system and "has demonstrated a total disregard for the rights of others and a poor attitude toward the law."
In addition, Carlisle said Maugaotega cannot conform his behavior to the requirements of law and is likely to commit future crimes.
Six days after a jury found him guilty in the Punchbowl shooting, Maugaotega pleaded no contest to:
• Two counts of first-degree burglary for breaking into Nu'uanu homes on May 23 and 28.
• Two counts of first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree burglary and a firearms offense in connection with the June 16 break-in of a Nu'uanu home.
• Two counts of first-degree sex assault and one count each of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and a firearms offense in connection with a June 23 incident at a Makiki-area home.
• Promoting prison contraband for possessing a "shank" — a potentially lethal, handmade, sharpened object — Aug. 17 while confined in the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility.
Maugaotega's lawyer, state Deputy Public Defender Walter Rodby, could not be reached to respond to Carlisle's sentencing request.
Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.
