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The Maui News
WAILUKU -- A Wailuku man was sentenced to a one-year jail term after he was arrested with a backpack containing methamphetamine with a street value of more than $100,000.
Aaron Steen, 42, also was placed on four years' probation when he was sentenced Nov. 14. Because he had already served the jail time, he was released from the Maui Community Correctional Center last week.
"I realize that drugs have no part in my life at all," Steen said in court. "I was rubbing elbows with the wrong type of people. I have a family and children, and I run a business, and I would like to be a good member of society."
Steen was arrested Oct. 27, 2017, when police executed search warrants for Steen, his vehicle and his residence, said Deputy Prosecutor Annalisa Bernard Lee. From a backpack that Steen was carrying, police recovered more than 266 grams of methamphetamine and $1,926 in cash, three gram scales and other paraphernalia, Bernard Lee said.
She said Steen denied owning the backpack that contained the methamphetamine. According to a police report, Steen said the backpack belonged to another man who had given it to Steen to hold. But when he testified at a recent court hearing, Steen said the backpack belonged to a different man who had been a passenger in Steen's van when police confronted Steen to execute the warrants, Bernard Lee said.
"The state does question his credibility," Bernard Lee said.
Steen had pleaded no contest to second-degree promoting of a dangerous drug. In exchange, the prosecution dismissed other charges.
Bernard Lee said the prosecution was recommending probation for Steen, who has no prior felony convictions, after "there were some issues" in reviewing an affidavit to obtain the search warrants.
Defense attorney Matthew Padgett said Steen realizes he needs to comply with requirements of his probation or face prison.
Noting that Steen denied ownership of the 266.8 grams of methamphetamine, 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo said, "To be charged with possession, you don't have to own it. You just have to be in possession of it."
The judge noted that the street value of the methamphetamine was "easily over $100,000."
"People don't give you bags worth over $100,000 to hold,"î Loo told Steen. "You were definitely, definitely in possession of these drugs."
As part of his probation, Steen was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. He also was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs.
Loo asked Steen: "If somebody hands you a bag to hold on to, what are you going to do?"
"Say no way," Steen replied.