WAILUKU - A Kihei woman who had been given a chance in the Maui Drug Court was sentenced Tuesday to a five-year prison term after agreeing to end her participation in the program.
Tammy Dooley, 41, had been on probation for drug charges dating to a March 29, 2008, search of her residence and vehicle.
After executing search warrants, police reported finding a black pouch with a bag containing crystal methamphetamine and a smoking pipe with residue, said Deputy Prosecutor Renee Ishikawa Delizo. She said Dooley told police she didn't know she had ice in her bedroom.
"This attitude of denial that she has a problem continued," Ishikawa Delizo said.
Dooley was sentenced to three months in jail and five years' probation in March 2009. But after being released from jail, she stopped reporting to her probation officer, tested positive for crystal methamphetamine use 10 times and didn't maintain her substance abuse and mental health treatment, Ishikawa Delizo said.
Facing revocation of her probation, Dooley was admitted into the Drug Court program of treatment and supervision last February. But after being released from a jail dormitory where she began drug treatment, Dooley broke her curfew twice and missed a meeting before failing to show up for an October court hearing, Ishikawa Delizo said.
"She does not realize fully her drug problem and had not given herself 100 percent to treatment," Ishikawa Delizo said.
Deputy Public Defender Annalisa Bernard said Dooley appreciated the chance to participate in Drug Court. "Unfortunately, it didn't work out for her," Bernard said.
Dooley apologized for her actions while in Drug Court. "I do have a drug problem," she said. "I do need help."
Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza sentenced Dooley to a five-year prison term for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Even though she didn't complete the Drug Court program, Dooley could still apply what she learned there and find success in her life, Cardoza said.
In another sentencing, a 33-year-old Lanai man was placed on five years' probation Jan. 9 for burglarizing the residences of his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend, taking her cellphone and dumping it in the toilet.
Samuel Soriano, who said he regretted what he did, was given credit for 105 days he previously spent in jail.
He had pleaded no contest to two reduced counts of second-degree burglary, third-degree theft and fourth-degree criminal property damage.
Soriano was arrested for entering the residences on May 10, 2011, first going to the new boyfriend's apartment and challenging him to a fight, said Deputy Prosecutor Justine Hura. She said Soriano took his former girlfriend's wallet, cellphone and keys, using them to enter her residence, where he dropped the wallet and cellphone in the toilet.
Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo, who followed a plea agreement in sentencing Soriano, called his behavior childish.
"It's time for you to move on with your life, find another girlfriend," Loo told Soriano. "And if you're going to get angry, I suggest you deal with it in a more adultlike fashion."
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.
