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WAILUKU -- A man who was arrested when police found drugs while executing search warrants at his residence near Wailuku Elementary School was sentenced to a five-year prison term.
"I knew better, and I do know better," Michael A. Johnson, 63, said at his sentencing Feb. 26.
Johnson had pleaded no contest to third-degree promoting of a dangerous drug, with other charges dismissed in exchange for his plea.
In March 2018, police reported finding crystal methamphetamine, heroin and 20 prescription pills when warrants were executed to search Johnson, his vehicle and residence on High Street, which is "right across" from the elementary school, said Deputy Prosecutor Joanne Hicks.
She said Johnson admitted to selling crystal methamphetamine and heroin.
Deputy Public Defender Danielle Sears said Johnson had been pursuing long-term drug treatment before reaching the plea agreement recommending prison.
He graduated in 2011 from the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision.
"When he was sober, he was high on sobriety. He really enjoyed it," Sears said. "He was doing well for quite some time. He relapsed, got back into that world. It is something he very much regrets."
Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo followed the plea agreement in sentencing Johnson.
"I'm always disappointed when a Drug Court graduate ends up back here in court for drug offenses," she said. "Sadly, sometimes Drug Court doesn't work. The sadder thing is when you have the tools.
"Sometimes when you discard the tools or they get rusty or you throw them on the side, this is what happens."
Referring to the location of the search, Loo told Johnson, "You're in the vicinity where there are schoolchildren around. No one wants their children to get polluted by drugs."
In another sentencing Feb. 26, a Molokai man was given an 18-month jail term as part of four years' probation after he was found with rifles and ammunition.
As a felon, Benedict Pelekai, 37, isn't allowed to own or possess firearms and ammunition.
Police seized 44 rounds of ammunition when they executed warrants to search Pelekai and his vehicle June 29, 2017.
A month later, on July 25, 2017, police executed another search warrant on a vehicle and recovered two loaded Winchester rifles.
Sears said Pelekai had been with others who were "bad influences."
Since then, Pelekai has sought treatment and "recommitted to his family," Sears said.
Judge Loo noted that Pelekai told police he had the rifles for protection. He also was found with a large quantity of drugs and told police he was selling and using the drugs, Loo said.
At the time, he was on probation for burglary and theft.
"From deep kimchi, you went into deeper kimchi," Loo told Pelekai.
In three criminal cases, he had pleaded no contest to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and first-degree bail jumping.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.