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Haiku man sent to prison for felony abuse of his wife

WAILUKU — A Haiku man has been sentenced to a five-year prison term for repeatedly threatening, restraining and abusing a family member, in some cases while she was nursing an infant.

Sean McDuff, 36, had pleaded no contest to nine counts of felony abuse of a family member, four reduced counts of first-degree unlawful imprisonment and first-degree terroristic threatening. The crimes occurred from November 2015 to Jan. 18, 2017, according to an indictment.

“It was all levels of abuse, physical and emotional, psychological, for a very long period of time,” Deputy Prosecutor Kirstin Coccaro said at McDuff’s sentencing Oct. 26. “She went through hell for a long period. Although I know she felt broken, she never let this completely break her. She knew she had to protect her kids. She knew she had to stop the violence.

“She showed an impressive amount of strength and desire to stop this violence and change her life. She was dedicated to getting justice for herself.”

In sentencing McDuff, 2nd Circuit Judge Richard Bissen agreed to follow a plea agreement between the defense and prosecution.

In exchange for McDuff’s pleas to the 14 counts, the prosecution dismissed 12 other charges, including five counts of first-degree sexual assault. Two other criminal cases against McDuff also were dismissed.

Speaking in court, the woman said McDuff had forced himself on her, even when she had been breastfeeding an infant.

“He found a way to gain control over every part of my life,” she said. “Then he kept me trapped physically, financially, emotionally and even on a deeper level.

“Sean threatened me,” she said. “He made sure I remembered how easy it was for people to go missing on Maui.”

She said McDuff had repeatedly strangled her, and she suffers symptoms of post-traumatic disorder.

McDuff, who has been incarcerated for about a year and four months, said he wasn’t disputing anything the woman said.

“In fact, I would like to acknowledge her pain, suffering, my behavior, the way that I treated her,” he said in court. “Every single day, I pray that God will remove that pain that I caused and give her peace and joy and forgiveness and love in her life, things that I didn’t give her.

“I’m not that same man,” he said. “There’s been a season of growth and reflection, and I’ve gained a perspective that I never had.”

Defense attorney Wendy Hudson said the criminal charges were brought against McDuff after the woman “discovered or assumed he was cheating.”

“That’s what started this whole cascade of events that changed both of their lives,” Hudson said. “This case is about a ‘he said, she said.’ Obviously, their narratives are quite different.

“Sean has reflected seriously on this relationship and himself,” Hudson said. “He admits to his character flaws. He admits to bad behavior.”

Coccaro said the woman now runs a successful business and is raising two young children.

“She is an example to all victims of domestic violence that you can break the cycle of violence,” Coccaro said. “You can thrive and you can break free.”

McDuff was ordered to pay $1,623 in restitution.

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