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Habitual drunk driver gets year in jail, probation

WAILUKU — A 26-year-old man who gave police a phony name when he was arrested for driving under the influence in 2014 was sentenced to a year in jail and four years’ probation on Thursday.

Haloti Mahe will not be permitted to drive for five years as part of his sentence for habitually driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license and second-degree forgery.

The habitual drunken driving offense is invoked when a defendant is charged with three or more offenses of operating a vehicle under the influence within a 10-year period.

Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Teshima said Mahe gave police someone else’s name when he was arrested for drunken driving. That has caused problems for the victim, who has been unable to obtain a driver’s license or get a job because the conviction is falsely on his record, the prosecutor said.

“This conviction follows him nationally,” Teshima said.

“Not being able to work, not being able to drive, it’s big in this society,” he said, adding that prosecutors were trying to help the victim clear his name.

“It’s a nightmare,” 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill said.

Cahill told Mahe that he shows poor judgment, but added: “I don’t think you have a criminal mindset.”

Mahe apologized and said he knew what he did was wrong and that he was intoxicated at the time.

He said he lied about his name “just to avoid jail” or “avoid disappointing my family.”

“I just want to ask you for (another) chance,” Mahe said.

Deputy Public Defender Heather Brown said Mahe never received alcohol treatment because, in part, he didn’t want any. But when Mahe lived in Alaska, he was able to find employment and live a sober life, she said.

Teshima said Mahe doesn’t know what he has done to the victim.

“The web that has to be untangled is very big,” he said.

On July 14, 2014, police arrested Mahe for drunken driving, but he gave them another person’s date of birth and name to avoid another charge. Then, he signed legal forms using the other person’s name.

In July last year, police found Mahe crashed into another car at the Kahului Harbor breakwater area.

Teshima said Mahe was asleep at the wheel with the engine running. Police smelled liquor, and they had to shake him awake.

Again, Mahe gave police someone else’s name, but he later provided his real name to police, the prosecutor said.

The judge’s sentence covered both drunken driving cases.

Mahe’s probation was revoked in a second-degree theft case dating back to 2013.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.

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