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WAILUKU -- A Waikapu man was found guilty of threatening another driver, who testified she had to reverse her vehicle to avoid a collision with a cargo van that accelerated backward toward her on Mokulele Highway, now known as Maui Veterans Highway.
A 2nd Circuit Court jury returned verdicts Wednesday afternoon, finding Rodney J. Rodrigues guilty as charged of first-degree terroristic threatening, harassment and reckless driving.
Rodrigues, 69, was driving a white 2012 Ford Econoline van that was traveling north on Piilani Highway in Kihei at about 3:45 p.m. Sept. 9, 2017.
Police officer Lehua Souza, who had just finished her shift at the Kihei Police Station, testified the cargo van was in the outer right lane as it passed her while she waited to turn right onto the highway from Kanani Road. The van was three to four car lengths in front of her Ford Explorer as she was going to pick up her child, Souza said.
She described seeing the van driver making abrupt lane changes, tailgating other vehicles and brake-checking vehicles behind the van as it traveled along Piilani Highway.
After passing North Kihei Road to continue onto Mokulele Highway, the van driver cut her off, Souza said.
She said Rodrigues yelled, "Drive safe" and she yelled back, "You cut me off." Rodrigues also made several derogatory comments and hand signals, Souza said.
After Souza pulled off the highway, Rodrigues also pulled off behind her.
She pulled back onto the road and he followed, maneuvering in front of her before stopping in the middle of the highway, Souza said. Then she said the van reversed toward her vehicle and accelerated so she had to reverse to avoid being hit.
After Rodrigues drove away, Souza pulled off the road and called police dispatch to report what happened.
Then she got back on the highway and followed the van, which continued on to Kahului Beach Road before stopping.
Under cross-examination by Deputy Public Defender Ben Lowenthal, Souza acknowledged that she had seen the van driving erratically without alerting anyone for more than 6 miles before the van reversed toward her on the highway between North Kihei Road and Mehameha Loop.
In his closing arguments to jurors Wednesday morning, Deputy Prosecutor Mike Kagami said Souza had no reason to lie about what happened.
"Why should you believe Lehua Souza? Her testimony is consistent and it was convincing," Kagami said. "It was believable because of the escalation of the defendant's conduct toward her. You can see that happening."
"We're happy with the verdict," Kagami said afterward.
Rodrigues is scheduled to be sentenced May 30.
Judge Peter Cahill presided over the trial.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.