WAILUKU — A 10-year prison term was ordered Wednesday for a man who was on parole when he stole and broke into vehicles, used stolen credit cards and was found with drugs.

Desmond Pulgados, 35, had asked to be placed on probation so he could have a second chance to participate in the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision.

Instead of having a charge reduced and agreeing to a five-year prison term, Pulgados pleaded no contest to a Class B drug charge, risking the longer prison sentence so he could again seek Drug Court admission, said Deputy Public Defender Ben Lowenthal.

“Desmond wanted to take the harder route,” Lowenthal said.

He said Drug Court had agreed to accept Pulgados if he were placed on probation.

“It rarely happens, but they will make the case for Desmond,” Lowenthal said.

Pulgados said he has been incarcerated for more than two years and wanted to apologize to his victims.

“Sorry for all the damage I have caused, the pain and suffering I have caused, emotionally and financially,” he said in court.

He said his belongings had been destroyed, damaged and stolen as well “with the recent disturbance or riot” at Maui Community Correctional Center.

In seven criminal cases, Pulgados had pleaded no contest to first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, seven counts of theft of a credit card, two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, third-degree promoting of a dangerous drug, second-degree theft, second-degree promoting of a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia and two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

Most of the crimes occurred in 2016, according to court records.

Pulgados had been released from prison Dec. 7, 2015, and was on parole when he committed the crimes, 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo noted.

“I lost count of all the people that you hurt, that you stole from, that you terrorized,” she told Pulgados. “Maybe now you know what it feels like to be a victim because you victimized lots and lots and lots of people.”

After executing a search warrant in one case, police recovered about 26 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana and more than $1,100 in cash from Pulgados.

In another case, he ran into a residence after he was seen driving a car that was stolen from a hotel parking lot.

Pulgados also was implicated in car break-ins at Nakalele, Launiupoko and Krispy Kreme in Kahului, where members of the Youth With a Mission program had their belongings stolen from a van, Loo said.

She said Pulgados used stolen credit cards at restaurants and other businesses.

“One of your statements to police was that you use these stolen cards even though it’s wrong because you want instant gratification,” Loo said.

“There’s no instant drug rehabilitation,” she said. “It’s not like instant saimin. Drug rehabilitation is like the tough stew meat you throw in the slow cooker. It’s got to simmer for hours and hours and hours.

“Though you’re saying you’re ready now, I don’t really quite know if I believe you because of all these offenses you committed while you were on parole.”

According to court records, Pulgados was admitted into the Drug Court program in September 2009 before he was terminated from participation in April 2011 for violating program rules. In July 2011, he was sentenced to a five-year prison term with a mandatory minimum term of one year and eight months.

In imposing the prison sentence, Judge Loo told Pulgados, “You were given a golden opportunity and you squandered it.”

Pulgados was ordered to pay $907 in restitution and to pay a $500 fine.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.