KAHULUI - A 38-year-old Kahului man who tried to report a false car accident last year was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine Tuesday.
Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza also gave Jason Akamine a chance to clear his record if he successfully completes probation.
"I'm satisfied you learned a valuable lesson from this," Cardoza said during sentencing.
Akamine pleaded no contest to insurance fraud and attempted second-degree theft.
Akamine said he takes full responsibility for his actions and knows what he did was wrong.
State Special Deputy Attorney General Colleen Chun asked that Akamine pay a $500 fine and serve a probation term.
She also opposed giving Akamine a chance to clear his record.
Deputy Public Defender Wendy Hudson said this was a case of "uncharacteristic lapse of judgment" for Akamine, who has no prior run-ins with the law.
Akamine cooperated with authorities from the beginning and "has really learned from his mistake," she said.
She asked for no jail so Akamine can continue to work six days a week to support his family.
According to court records the charges stem from incidents on Sept. 15, 2010, and Oct. 22, 2010, which involved Akamine falsely trying to get payment from GEICO.
