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WAILUKU -- A 10-year prison term was ordered for a Kahului man who burglarized six homes and a business during a crime spree that included possession of drugs and a loaded pistol.
Lee Kawika Mathias, 39, asked to be sentenced to the 10-year term rather than consecutive prison terms totaling 20 years sought by the prosecution.
"I stand here one new man," he said in court Tuesday, describing 12-step and other programs he had enrolled in while in jail for the past two and a half years. "I just hope that you can recognize that."
In seven criminal cases, Mathias had pleaded no contest to six counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, a reduced charge of second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The residential burglaries occurred from May 2017 to April 2018 in Kahului, Wailuku and Kula, according to court records. Another burglary occurred in December 2017 at Olowalu Plantation House.
After he was arrested in April 2018, police reported finding a loaded pistol, crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in his backpack.
Other charges and cases were dismissed in exchange for Mathias' pleas.
Mathias' prior criminal record includes more than a dozen felony convictions for burglary, forgery, theft and drug offenses. In 2007, he was sentenced to a 10-year prison term.
"It's time to protect the public from this defendant," Deputy Prosecutor Mike Kagami said in seeking consecutive sentencing.
With some of the crimes occurring after Mathias was arrested, then released on bail, 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill asked how he had posted bail to be released week after week.
"The love of my family, every single time," Mathias said.
"Sometimes that's a big mistake," Cahill said.
"It was," Mathias said. "It got to one point where they said, 'You got to sit in there.' ''
Cahill said the consecutive terms would have been warranted based on Mathias' criminal record and his crime spree.
"What harm you did cause to every one of those victims is horrible," Cahill told Mathias. "And their losses are not something that could be recovered."
But in sentencing Mathias to concurrent prison terms totaling 10 years, Cahill said the defendant appeared to be remorseful and had worked to rehabilitate himself while incarcerated.
Mathias was taking online college courses while in jail and is a module helper, indicating that adult corrections officers trust him, said his attorney, Wendy Hudson. "He's really motivated to better himself," she said.
She said Mathias wrote letters apologizing to each victim in his cases.
Mathias was in his 20s when he was convicted in his prior cases, Hudson said.
Back then, he was admitted into the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision but relapsed and didn't complete the program, Hudson said. He was 26 when he was sentenced to prison, eventually serving out his sentence in November 2016.
Now, "he's of the age when he finally gets it," Hudson said.
She said Mathias had tried for months to again be admitted into the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision.
"The burglaries were all drug related," she said. "Basically, he would fence the stuff to get drugs to support his habit."
Family, friends and former employers wrote letters to the court in support of Mathias.
"Today, I have more clarity on which direction I want my life to go in," he said. "I know more than anything that drugs is my biggest downfall in life, and to address that is my main focus."
Mathias said he had been clean and sober while in jail for two and a half years.
"You know that get more drugs in jail than there are on the streets," he said. "But I still chose to fight sober."
He said he also participated in available programs. "I do that for better myself, for change my old ways," he said.
A restitution hearing is set for Oct. 1.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.