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WAILUKU -- A man who was arrested with drugs on Molokai less than two months after being released from prison was sentenced Aug. 2 to a five-year prison term.
"I think you should buy stock in a door company," 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo told Wilhelm Huntzinger. "It seems like you like revolving doors."
Huntzinger, 26, who is also known as Billy Huntzinger, had pleaded no contest to third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, prohibited possession of firearm ammunition and possession of a butterfly knife.
In exchange for his pleas, three other charges were dismissed.
Huntzinger was arrested after police reported finding 0.33 gram of crystal methamphetamine, two smoking pipes containing methamphetamine residue, 0.64 gram of marijuana, a digital gram scale, metal scrapers, numerous empty plastic packets, $202 in cash, 19 30-06 caliber rifle cartridges and a butterfly knife in a search of a car he was driving.
Police impounded the Honda sedan after Huntzinger sped away in the vehicle before 6 a.m. April 28, 2016, at Kapaakea Cemetery and was arrested for driving without a license, according to police. A bicyclist who had been standing next to the driver's side of the car at the cemetery rode away and a packet of crystal methamphetamine fell from the bottom of his pants, police said.
The bicyclist reportedly told police he had bought the drug from Huntzinger.
Defense attorney Al Albrechtson said a report prepared for Huntzinger's sentencing detailed his childhood, which included having parents unable to care for him and being placed with relatives in Child Protective Services and foster care.
At age 12, Huntzinger had his first contact with the criminal justice system, Albrechtson said.
He said Huntzinger has been in a "cycle of getting into trouble, being penalized."
"It's a cycle that goes around and around for him," Albrechtson said. "He's been in the system for over half of his life. Unless he learns to break the cycle that he's on, it's going to break him and he's going to end up in prison for the rest of his life." Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones said "a hard-negotiated plea agreement" led to the resolution of the case.
She said services had been provided to help Huntzinger, who at one time was placed on more closely monitored probation. "He chose not to engage in that," Jones said.
After being released from prison, Huntzinger moved to Molokai. When he was arrested, Huntzinger was "by all accounts dealing drugs early in the morning at a remote location at the graveyard," Jones said.
"He's in possession of drugs packaged for sale, drug paraphernalia and bullets," she said.
Court records show Huntzinger was sentenced to a five-year prison term for first-degree assault on a police officer and attempted first-degree assault on a police officer.
He was released from prison March 6, 2016, before being arrested April 28, 2016, on Molokai.
"So the door opened, you got out," Judge Loo told Huntzinger. "You went right back in. You're 26 years old and you're going back for your third prison term.
"We can steer you in the right direction, but ultimately you need to make the right choices."
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.