WAILUKU — A man who was on probation when he stole four vehicles over a six-month period was sentenced July 17 to five years in prison.

“You like stealing wheels so much you drove yourself down the path to prison,” 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo said in sentencing Clayton Vierra.

Vierra, 25, asked for the prison sentence, even though he probably would have been eligible to enter the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision, said Deputy Public Defender Zach Raidmae.

In four criminal cases, Vierra had pleaded no contest to four counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, three counts of second-degree theft, third-degree criminal property damage, first-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, reckless driving and fourth-degree theft.

According to court records, the vehicles were stolen from July 24, 2018, to Jan. 2.

In court, Scott Williamson said his 1988 Toyota Tacoma was stolen Nov. 24 from his driveway.

He had fixed up the truck after buying it from his brother six months before he died, Williamson said.

“That’s the only thing I have left from him,” he said. “It had a lot of sentimental value to me.”

Although he got the truck back, “it’s totally stripped,” Williamson said.

“Because he came on my property and stole my truck, it put a lot of stress on my family, my daughters, my son and my wife,” Williamson said.

Judge Loo asked Vierra if he had heard what Williamson said.

“Do you see how your actions can affect innocent people?” Loo said to Vierra.

Months earlier, Vierra stole another man’s van and a couple’s Honda Accord.

After Vierra stole a woman’s 1986 Toyota pickup truck in January, he hid in tall cane grass outside when police went to his mother’s house to look for him, Loo noted. A couple of days later, police arrested him while a woman was trying to hide Vierra at her house.

Vierra was placed on four years’ probation in June 2017 for third-degree promoting of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

“You haven’t learned anything here,” Judge Loo said to him during sentencing. “This is your M.O. You steal wheels. So many cases, so many cars, so many victims.”

Vierra was ordered to pay restitution totaling $14,562, including $3,558 to Williamson.

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