Posted on: Wednesday, September 8, 2004

Two plead guilty in donations to Harris campaign

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two men pleaded guilty yesterday to misdemeanor charges of making illegal campaign contributions to Mayor Jeremy Harris, the latest in a series of similar cases.

John A. Adversalo, 48, and Daniel K. Rosario, 42, each face a maximum penalty of two years in jail and $4,000 in fines when they are sentenced in November.

Circuit Judge Steven Alm said he is inclined to grant deferrals that would allow the defendants to clear their criminal records within a few years, but that he would consider sentencing each to 10 days in jail.

Alm declined to allow them to plead no contest to the charges, and insisted they plead guilty or not guilty.

Adversalo was charged with two counts of making campaign contributions under a false name. Rosario was charged with one false name count and one count of exceeding the legal donation limit of $4,000 per donor in a mayoral race.

Deputy prosecutor Randal Lee said the illicit donations were made before 2001, but he declined to specify the amounts.

Adversalo is president of Architects Pacific, and Rosario is an independent contractor. The defendants and their attorneys declined to comment while sentencing is pending.

Over the past two years, prosecutors have charged more than two dozen defendants with making illegal campaign donations, mostly to Harris.

Harris has not been charged with wrongdoing.

Reach Johnny Brannon at 525-8070 or jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com.