Daniel W. Taylor, 40, had pleaded guilty to the federal misdemeanor charge last year. Last month, the state attorney general's office said it would be separately charging Taylor with first-degree theft.

Federal Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobayashi agreed to allow Taylor, who is free on a $10,000 signature bond, 90 days to surrender to the federal prison system.

Taylor's doctor testified that he is a severe epileptic who can suffer 20 to 30 seizures a day. On the advice of first assistant federal public defender Alexander Silvert, Taylor's attorney, Kobayashi agreed to recommend that incarceration take place at a federal medical facility equipped to deal with his condition.

Silvert said he also wants Taylor not be sent to the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, a federal prison on the West Coast or anywhere else with a large Native Hawaiian population for fear of his safety.

Taylor and his family have been subject to threats as a result of the publicity of the case.

While Taylor declined to speak at today's hearing, Silvert read a statement in which Taylor said "I am very ashamed of myself ... I hope the Hawaiian community will be able to forgive me."