Crime takes man’s liberty

WAILUKU - A 40-year-old man was expected to be deported to his native Russia after he was sentenced Friday for damaging vehicles, driving away recklessly from the scene of a crash and punching a police officer as the officer tried to stop the suspect from accosting a bystander.

Alexei Koutsko, who is also known as Alexei Romanoff, was ordered to serve a six-month jail term and placed on five years' probation.

Koutsko is subject to a federal warrant calling for him to be deported to Russia, said Deputy Public Defender Greg Ball.

"His foot will simply not touch the street at any point," Ball said. "He will have no moment of liberty from the day he committed the crimes until he ends up back in St. Petersberg. That is some relief, I imagine, to the multiple victims in this case."

Koutsko had pleaded no contest to first-degree assault of a police officer, second-degree criminal property damage, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, resisting arrest, reckless driving, inattention to driving and leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to vehicles.

The incident unfolded Aug. 30 when Koutsko was seen breaking windows to damage a water truck and all-terrain loader belonging to Towne Realty of Hawaii, according to police. After leaving the damaged vehicles at Kumulipo Place in Wailuku, he rear-ended a vehicle at Makaala Street and Kahekili Highway before driving to Kahului.

When Wailuku patrol officer Keith Taguma encountered Koutsko at Papa and Kaahumanu avenues in Kahului, he was getting out of a PT Cruiser and heading toward a woman on a motor scooter, Taguma said in court Friday. He said he stepped between Koutsko and the woman before being hit twice by Koutsko.

"She was just a citizen, trying to help the police, giving us play by play," Taguma said. "I just wanted to stop him, make sure he didn't leave the scene again."

Taguma said he wanted to know what excuse would be given by Koutsko, who was arrested with $6,000 cash and marijuana. He told police he was living in Kihei and working as an art dealer.

Turning to the officer in the courtroom Friday, Koutsko said: "I would like to apologize, sir."

Koutsko called what he did "a single incident in my life."

"It's never happened before; it will never happen again," Koutsko said.

Referring to letters from Koutsko's friends and business associates, 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August said what happened that day didn't seem consistent with Koutsko's normal behavior. While there was some indication in police reports that Koutsko had taken drugs before the incident, August said he didn't know why Koutsko acted as he did that day.

He was ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

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