WAILUKU - With a 2nd Circuit judge calling him a "pathological liar," Cody Wayne Joslin was sentenced to one year in jail and five years' probation for incidents involving theft, fraud and illegally entering a home.
Judge Richard Bissen followed a plea agreement in sentencing the 27-year-old Wailuku resident on Dec. 20. Joslin was ordered to pay nearly $11,000 in restitution and was given credit for time already served in jail.
Although Joslin was being sentenced for two theft incidents, much of the discussion during sentencing revolved around Joslin forging various certificates of completion from the military and presenting them to the probation department.
According to court testimony, the probation department found out the dates on Joslin's certificates were false after an official called Joslin's family.
Deputy Prosecutor Lewis Littlepage, a veteran, said, "I was appalled when I read this."
When asked by Bissen how long Littlepage served in the military, he said 20 years in the Air Force.
Littlepage said that the state has notified the FBI about Joslin's incident regarding the forged military certificates.
"Mr. Joslin likes to play games," he said, noting Joslin had said he had "blacked out" and couldn't remember things about the criminal theft and fraud incidents.
Joslin, who did serve in the military for a short stint, apologized for the incidents and to the military veterans.
"I know I have a problem," he added.
Joslin said the incidents will not happen again.
The judge did not buy that.
"(The) only conclusion I can reach is you are a pathological liar," said Bissen. "I don't believe anything you said today."
Bissen said Joslin has not been convicted in regard to the false certificates, so he could not sentence him for those matters. He sentenced the defendant to jail and probation per the plea agreement.
Joslin pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of unauthorized entry into a dwelling; five counts of second-degree theft; three counts of credit card theft and three counts of credit card fraud for incidents in March and in June.
In one incident in March, Joslin took credit cards from an instructor's purse at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus.
In the other incident in June, a Kahului home was broken into and 13 pieces of jewelry were stolen along with medication.
Court records show Joslin knew the victims.
He also was ordered to stay away from the victims and to not enter the Gold Guys and Paradise Buy & Sell businesses, court records show. Joslin may only enter the UH-Maui College campus with the permission of his probation officer and officials at the college.
