Posted at 11:17 a.m., Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Man who hit former police chief gets probation
Advertiser Staff
A Central O'ahu man who hit former Honolulu Police chief Michael Nakamura with his car in September 2004 as Nakamura was driving his motorized scooter through a crosswalk in Mililani was sentenced in court this morning to five years probation.In addition, Circuit Judge Derrick Chan also ordered Anthony G. Pearce II, 21, to pay $4,647 in restitution to Nakamura, most of which is to reimburse Nakamura for having to buy a new scooter, and to perform 250 hours of community service.
Chan denied a request by Pearce's attorney to defer accepting Pearce's guilty plea. Had Chan granted the deferral, Pearce could have avoided a permanent criminal record.
Chan told Pearce he should never have been behind the wheel the day Nakamura was hit, noting that Pearce had four prior arrests for driving without a license. One of those arrests occurred five days before Nakamura was struck.
Pearce was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury, but returned a short time later and turned himself in to authorities.
