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Man sent to prison for punching the ex-firefighter who was coming to help

The Maui News

WAILUKU — A five-year prison term was ordered for a man who assaulted a retired firefighter, who suffered a broken orbital bone.

Ikaika Balanza White, 35, had pleaded no contest to second-degree assault.

In arguing for the prison term during the July 23 sentencing hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Teshima said the defendant was a danger to the community.

The assault occurred Feb. 8, 2017, when the retired firefighter saw Balanza White appearing to be in distress and went up to him to see what was wrong, Teshima said. He said Balanza White punched the firefighter, who suffered a broken orbital bone that required surgery. When there were complications, the firefighter required additional surgery, Teshima said.

A plea agreement between the defense and prosecution had recommended probation for Balanza White, who was released from jail on supervision to his family. But he was arrested again for abusing a family member in March.

“He commits acts of violence against his family, people trying to help him,” Teshima said. “The state doesn’t have any assurance at all, any hope that he would complete probation.”

While acknowledging that Balanza White has a mental health history, Teshima said “the defendant’s offenses aren’t crimes of him doing drugs, property crimes. These are crimes of violence.”

Balanza White had asked to be placed on probation, with his attorney saying the defendant needed help for his mental health issues, as well as substance abuse issues.

Balanza White admitted to daily drug use, said Deputy Public Defender Danielle Sears.

Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill said that when Balanza White is out on the street, “like a lot of people with mental health issues, they just start using illegal drugs.”

“This is one of those balancing acts that’s so difficult,” Cahill said.

“I agree prison is not the place where we should be treating people with mental health problems,” he said.

But he said the issue is what happens when people with mental health problems don’t obtain the necessary level of care.

Although Balanza White is small in size, “the damage that he did to the victim is extraordinary,” Cahill said.

He said he couldn’t order probation for Balanza White. “No. 1, he probably won’t go,” Cahill said. “No. 2, he presents a danger to the people working at probation.”

“I really don’t see any other option,” Cahill said in imposing the five-year prison term.

“For the period of time he’s in prison, he will not be presenting a danger to the community at large.”

Balanza White was ordered to pay $5,956 in restitution.

In another case, Balanza White was sentenced to a one-year jail term, to be served at the same time, after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor abuse charge.

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