Posted at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Former Lana'i coach pleads guilty in liquor case
Advertiser Staff
A former Lana'i girls basketball coach pleaded guilty today to charges he provided liquor to underage players during a pre-season trip to O'ahu in March 2005.Russell Zablan, who was fired from his head coaching job at Lana'i High School, had originally pleaded not guilty but changed his mind today in District Court in Honolulu. Zablan pleaded guilty to seven counts of providing liquor to a minor — misdemeanors — and one count of harassment, a petty misdemeanor.
District Court Judge Rhonda Nishimura granted Zablan a deferred acceptance of guilt on all charges, but the former coach must return to court in a year. If Zablan abides by conditions set today by the court, his record could be erased.
Honolulu prosecutors objected to the deferral and had asked for jail time.
Zablan was ordered to perform 30 hours of community service for each count and pay the state $200 for each count. Because he received a deferred acceptance of guilt, the money is not called a fine.
In court, Zablan admitted to providing beer to seven players during the tournament from March 10 to 13 last year. The players were 13 to 18 years old at the time.
