Sexual relations with girl, 13, leads to jail

Brodin Carter also was placed on five years’ probation

WAILUKU -- A man who was in a relationship with a 13-year-old girl when she became pregnant was sentenced to a nine-month jail term.

Brodin Carter, 20, also was placed on five years' probation in his sentencing April 11.

"I just want to be there for my son," Carter said, asking to be released from jail. "I grew up without a dad. I know how it is. I don't want that for another child out there."

Originally charged with first-degree sexual assault, Carter had pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of third-degree sexual assault of the girl.

Carter faced the charge because he was 18 and the girl was 13 when they had a sexual relationship in January and February 2016, said Deputy Public Defender Zach Raidmae.

When 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo asked whether Carter had been supporting his son, he said he had bought diapers for the child "maybe twice."

When the judge asked if he knew the child's birthday, he couldn't come up with the November 2016 date. Carter said he had broken up with the girl before learning she was pregnant.

"You need to be a part of this child's life," Loo told Carter. "You need to provide emotional support, financial support. If you're going to make a baby, you need to take care of a baby.

"I understand you thought you should run. Maybe the better thing would be not to have run."

Carter also had pleaded no contest to first-degree bail jumping for not appearing for a March 30, 2017, court hearing while the case was pending.

Police detectives brought him back from Montana, where he said he has family, to face the charge.

Judge Loo asked why, if he wanted to be part of his child's life, Carter had gone back to his family and "abandoned" his child.

"I had a screwdriver shoved in my chest and a gun put to my head," he said. "I had no choice."

Raidmae said Carter's life was being threatened before he decided to leave.

"He had a legitimate fear for his safety," Raidmae said.

He said Carter had told his attorney and left messages with the prosecutor's office and others before he left Maui.

At the time, Carter and the victim had been working with Child Welfare Services to establish paternity and set up visitation for the child, said Deputy Prosecutor Annalisa Bernard Lee.

"He appeared to be wanting to be responsible when he left the island," she said.

She said a plea agreement recommending probation for Carter was reached after consulting with the victim.

"She really wanted her baby to have a father in his life," Bernard Lee said. "We're hoping he steps to the plate and is the father he says he wants to be for this child."

Carter said he would stay on Maui and would call police if he faced more threats.

Judge Loo noted that Carter had acknowledged knowing that he could face prosecution if the 13-year-old girl became pregnant.

"You got a lot of growing up to do," Loo told Carter.

Along with registering as a sex offender, Carter was ordered to participate in sex offender treatment.

He was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay $4,731 in extradition costs to have him brought back to Maui.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.