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The Maui News
WAILUKU -- A man who was on parole when he was arrested for drug dealing was sentenced Monday to a 20-year prison term.
"I made a bad choice again," Adam Evert said in court. "I just got to move forward from here."
Evert, 36, of Wailuku was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to first-degree promoting of a dangerous drug in connection with his arrest Nov. 7.
"He was on parole for drug dealing and engaged in drug dealing," said Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones.
She said a police vice investigation showed Evert left work that day and met co-defendant Kevin K. Enos in the parking lot of Seven Pools Lounge in the Wailuku industrial area.
Enos reportedly handed Evert a bag containing methamphetamine before Evert went to the parking lot of Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului. When police tried to arrest Evert there, he fled on Kea Street, driving in traffic before police were able to stop him "basically where he started" near Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Jones said.
She said police recovered 8 ounces of methamphetamine that Evert had thrown out the window of his vehicle as he fled the mall.
"He did make a full confession to police regarding his drug dealing," she said.
In February 2014, Evert was sentenced to a 10-year prison term for second-degree methamphetamine trafficking. He was paroled last summer after being "a model inmate" while incarcerated at Waiawa Correctional Facility on Oahu, said his attorney, Cary Virtue.
He said Evert's parole was revoked last week when he went before the parole board.
In exchange for Evert's plea, two other charges were dismissed. The prosecution agreed not to seek consecutive or mandatory minimum sentencing.
While incarcerated this time, "I'm going to do all the programs I need to do, and just continue to move forward," Evert said.
Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen, who followed the plea agreement in sentencing Evert, said the defendant had a good plan.
"You have obviously demonstrated that you're capable of doing well in custody," Bissen told Evert. "It's when you're out of custody that you're having problems. It's almost like you want to go back to prison."
Referring to the description of Evert as a "model prisoner," Bissen said: "But that means you keep going back to prison to earn that title. Isn't it better to be a model citizen? That would be so much better."
When he was released on parole, Evert apparently had a job, Bissen noted.
"You got drug users who are addicted to drugs and you got drug dealers who are addicted to money," Bissen said. "That's why it's such a harsh sentence -- cause the impact is great. It's probably impacting friends and family out there. I know you don't want that. I don't think you see it at the moment."
Bissen said Evert had accepted the sentence he was receiving.
"The bigger thing is you've accepted improving yourself," the judge told Evert. "Nobody can fault you for that."
Co-defendant Enos, 53, of Wailuku is awaiting trial on charges of first-degree promoting a dangerous drug, criminal conspiracy to commit first-degree promoting a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.