The Maui News

WAILUKU — With family members saying a man had stopped drinking and “made tremendous changes” after being arrested for abusing and threatening his wife, he was spared additional jail time when he was sentenced last month.

Theodore Sniffen, 41, of Wailuku was placed on five years’ probation.

Before being sentenced Oct. 26, Sniffen had completed domestic violence intervention classes and substance abuse treatment, said his attorney, Wendy Hudson.

“He recognized that he needed help,” she said. “He’s not only availed himself of these treatments, he’s embraced them. He has become a better person, husband and father.”

She said family members’ letters to the court described a turnaround in Sniffen’s involvement in his family, which includes three children.

“Theo had always been involved in their sports,” Hudson said. “Now, he talks to his children, listens to them. As he was drinking heavily for the last 19 years, he probably wasn’t there emotionally.”

While his son used to be afraid of his father, he now runs and hugs him, Hudson said.

Sniffen had pleaded no contest to first-degree terroristic threatening and felony abuse.

While he asked for no additional jail after being incarcerated for three days, the prosecution sought a 45-day jail term.

“The conduct in this case is very concerning,” said Deputy Prosecutor Brandon Segal. 

On Feb. 14, Sniffen and his wife got into an argument at home about a television show “that apparently triggered some past memories of the defendant,” Segal said.

He said Sniffen told his wife he was going to kill the children and make her watch, then kill her. Sniffen walked to the other side of the living room and got a 12-inch-long kitchen knife with a 7-inch blade from the drawer, then walked back to his wife, Segal said.

As she placed her hands against his chest, “he continued to yell and hold the knife” with the sharp edge facing his wife, while he grabbed her hair with his left hand, Segal said.

“She feared for her life,” he said. 

The couple’s children were in the area, Segal said.

Hudson said that when Sniffen’s daughter entered the room and said, “Dad, what are you doing?” he put the knife down, went out on the porch and waited for the police.

Sniffen has no prior criminal history, Hudson said.

“This is just a crazy thing that happened,” she said. “He’s learned so much and has absolutely remained sober. He’s ashamed of his behavior this particular night, as well as not being there for his kids and his wife emotionally for basically 19 years. He loves them. Until this particular incident, he wasn’t aware of how his behavior affected them.”

Hudson said Sniffen’s wife “almost feels like this has been a blessing in disguise.”

“He didn’t recognize how much his drinking affected his family life. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that,” Hudson said. “Big picture, it was a seminal event in the life of a family. He has accepted responsibility and made tremendous changes to his life.”

Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen said it wasn’t unusual to see violence happen in the home when alcohol is mixed with a triggering event.

But given Sniffen’s lack of any criminal history, “for this to occur at this stage of his life is unusual,” Bissen said.

“There are things we want people to do when we place them on probation,” Bissen said. “There’s a change in behavior, attitude, conduct that we want for people rather than give up on them. It looks like Mr. Sniffen has taken all those steps before coming to court today. Maybe the whole family has.”

The judge told Sniffen: “You should continue with the changes you’ve made, not go back to perhaps who you were at one time.

“This is your chance.” 

As part of his probation, Sniffen was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. He was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs.