Felon who stole vehicle from police lot off to prison

Judge sentences man to 5 years with no parole

WAILUKU -- A felon who had drugs and guns and stole vehicles, including one from the Maui Police Department impound lot, was sentenced Wednesday to a five-year prison term.

As a multiple repeat offender, Bronson Bascar, 31, of Haiku was ordered to serve the entire five-year term without being eligible for early release on parole.

Noting that he was appearing in court the day before Halloween, 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo told Bascar, "For the community's sake, for Maui's sake, I hope you are definitely out of tricks because you're not going to get any further treats."

In four criminal cases, Bascar had pleaded no contest to two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, second-degree theft, two counts of prohibited possession of a firearm, third-degree promoting of a dangerous drug, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal property damage, conspiracy to commit second-degree theft and tampering with physical evidence.

He committed the crimes from June 21, 2017, to May 7, 2018, according to court records.

In the earliest case, Bascar stole a KTM Enduro motorcycle from Hale Mahaolu in Kahului in the early-morning hours of June 21, 2017. Surveillance footage showed two males loading the motorcycle into the back of a Toyota pickup truck owned by Bascar. Police later found the motorcycle in the front yard of Bascar's residence on Kahiapo Road.

After being released on bail, Bascar was arrested in three other cases for crimes he committed in May 2018.

In two cases, he possessed a .40-caliber pistol although he isn't allowed to own or possess firearms because he is a felon. He stole a 2018 Nissan Titan rental vehicle, and broke into a Kahului woman's 2014 Honda Civic.

On May 7, 2018, Bascar and two other men stole a 2005 Toyota 4Runner that had been impounded, and was in a storage lot at the Wailuku Police Station. Bascar paid the two other men with drugs to help him, according to court records.

"It goes on and on and on," Judge Loo said.

Speaking in court, Bascar said he was "shame."

"It's hard for come up here and admit wrong," he said.

He thanked family members who were in the courtroom gallery.

Bascar, who has been incarcerated at Halawa Correctional Facility on Oahu, was brought to Maui for his sentencing.

In a letter to the court, Bascar said he planned to make significant changes in his life, said Deputy Public Defender Danielle Sears.

"I hope you're very sincere about wanting to make a change in life," Judge Loo told Bascar. "I really do hope you learned from this."

Bascar was ordered to pay $1,567 in restitution.

According to court records, Bascar has prior convictions for two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. In October 2013, he was sentenced to a five-year prison term.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@maui news.com.