WAILUKU — A 32-year-old man whose attorney said his addiction to opiates may have fueled his crimes was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for four cases involving theft and threatening police officers.

Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen followed a plea agreement in sentencing Joseph Scott, who was also ordered to pay nearly $1,116 in restitution.

Scott was also ordered to write letters of apology to the three Maui police officers he threatened.

“Let’s hope you are done with this phase of your life,” Bissen said.

Bissen added that when Scott is eventually released, he will be left to figure things out.

He also questioned Scott’s thinking when he committed a robbery for $80 worth of items, since Scott could have faced a lengthy prison term.

“Twenty-year lockup for 80 bucks?” Bissen said.

During sentencing, Scott said he accepted responsibility for his actions and wants to better himself.

Deputy Prosecutor Shelly Miyashiro outlined the cases, including one in which Scott stole $1,036 from the cash register of the Union 76 station in Lahaina on March 15, 2018.

The owner found the money was missing, and upon reviewing surveillance video, saw Scott reaching over the counter and opening the cash register. The owner recognized Scott as a customer.

In another case on Dec. 26, 2018, Miyashiro said three police officers went to serve two active warrants on Scott. They went to a field along Hookele Street in Kahului and saw a van with blue tarp.

Scott was inside but told officers that the “Joe” they were looking for had left the site. While talking to the officers, Scott grabbed a knife, Miyashiro said.

Police were able to subdue Scott, according to testimony during a preliminary hearing.

On June 4, 2018, Scott entered Office Max in Kahului and took nearly $80 of items and was identified by a former employee, Miyashiro said.

She added that Scott had been on probation for a 2016 case.

Deputy Public Defender Ben Lowenthal, one of Scott’s attorneys, said Scott looks better now than when he first entered Maui Community Correctional Center.

Lowenthal added that Scott was addicted to opiates, such as oxycodone, when he committed the crimes. The addiction also led to Scott being homeless.

Scott on Monday pleaded no contest to reduced charges of second-degree theft, third-degree theft and first-degree terroristic threatening in the most recent cases. He was also resentenced in his old 2016 case, which involved second-degree theft and promotion of a dangerous drug in the third degree. All terms will run concurrently.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.