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The Maui News
WAILUKU -- A 25-year-old Kahului man who beat up two men in separate incidents was sentenced Friday to the maximum prison term, 10 years.
In sentencing Maximo Elaydo, 2nd Circuit Judge Richard Bissen issued the maximum number of years in prison for the two second-degree assault cases, going beyond the prosecution-recommended five-year concurrent terms.
"It seems the defendant sees himself as the enforcer," Bissen said. "What this tells the court, some people just like violence. One of them is standing before me right now."
The judge noted that Elaydo, who pleaded no contest to the two counts, has violated the law in the past and served time in the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility. Through all of this, "he got worse."
"I feel you to be a danger to the community, Mr. Elaydo," Bissen said.
In a letter read in court, Elaydo apologized to the victims and their families and said he "was wrong." He noted that he let emotion and pride get in the way, and that he no longer wanted to live a life of crime and be behind bars.
Deputy Prosecutor Shelly Miyashiro said that in one incident on Sept. 4, 2016, Elaydo got into a fight with a man in the Zippy's parking lot and even struck the victim as he lay on the ground.
She said the defendant "would not stop." The victim suffered lacerations to his face and lip, bone fractures and lost teeth and still has problems with vision in one eye. He lost consciousness during the incident.
Miyashiro said that the victim's girlfriend said that Elaydo and others showed up at the parking lot. A person with Elaydo spoke with her boyfriend and later Elaydo got into the fight.
In the other incident on March 11, 2017, at a service station in Kahului, Elaydo confronted a worker about a female family friend. As the worker came off a forklift and turned away, Elaydo punched him.
The victim had facial lacerations and damage to his septum and nose.
"This wasn't a fair fight. . . . This was not a case of self defense," Miyashiro said.
Deputy Public Defender Ben Lowenthal said Elaydo has learned his lesson, is a hard worker and wants to get back to work in the hotel industry. He recognized that Elaydo was a "hothead" and even a "punk" but said he has learned from being in jail for two years.
Lowenthal also noted that if the Zippy's case went to trial there would have been some facts disputed, including that Elaydo was not the only one involved and that the victim was upset and intoxicated.
In the 2017 incident, Lowenthal said Elaydo was worried about the welfare of a family friend.
Elaydo was ordered to pay $199.54 in restitution in the 2017 case, and a restitution hearing for the 2016 case is set for Dec. 11.