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WAILUKU -- A six-month jail term was ordered for a Wailuku man who had been given a chance to stay out of jail but didn't follow through with drug treatment.
Kaelen Hoopii, 20, also was placed on four years' probation.
He had pleaded no contest to first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, DUI and two counts of fourth-degree criminal property damage on March 19.
Hoopii was arrested May 6 after crashing a stolen Ford F250 pickup truck into a guardrail while under the influence of alcohol, according to police.
Deputy Public Defender Heather Brown said it was the first time Hoopii faced felony charges.
She said she was surprised to learn that there was a history of drug use in Hoopii's family and that he was exposed to violence in the home as a child.
"What I still see is a young man who wants to break away from that lifestyle," she said.
A plea agreement between the defense and prosecution recommended no additional jail for Hoopii.
But after being released from jail on supervision, he tested positive for methamphetamine use and had trouble following requirements to report to the Maui Intake Service Center, according to court records.
His sentencing, originally set for the ending of January, had been delayed to give him time to seek a substance abuse assessment so he could qualify for sentencing as a first-time drug offender.
Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill said Hoopii didn't obtain the assessment, despite being given many chances to do so.
Cahill said he was disappointed that Hoopii also was arrested on new charges.
"The bottom line is if I don't put you in jail, you're going to keep picking up new charges," Cahill said.
He denied Hoopii's request for a chance to keep the convictions off his record.
Hoopii was ordered to pay $6,348 in restitution to the state Department of Transportation for the guardrail damage.
Court records show Hoopii was arrested Feb. 14 and was charged with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and fourth-degree criminal property damage in a pending case.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.