Man who stole cars from local dealerships sentenced to prison

He was awaiting sentencing in five previous cases when he committed his new crimes

WAILUKU -- A man who was awaiting sentencing in five criminal cases when he committed similar new crimes was sentenced Jan. 28 to five years in prison.

Zachariah Tacang, 31, who gave no local address, had asked to be placed on probation so he could work and undergo drug treatment.

"His heart's in the right place," said defense attorney Cary Virtue. "For once, he's genuinely trying to change."

By committing the additional crimes, Tacang breached a plea agreement recommending a one-year jail term as part of four years' probation for burglary, vehicle break-in and drug charges in the five cases, said Deputy Prosecutor Tracy Jones.

"The defendant has to stop going to dealerships and stealing from people," Jones said. "That's not something we, as a community, tolerate.

"At this point, the only option to assure our safety is to put him away in prison for a period of five years."

In the seven criminal cases, Tacang had pleaded no contest to six counts of first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, second-degree burglary, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, four counts of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and second-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle.

The crimes occurred from August 2019 to June 2020, according to court records.

One case involved the thefts of a 2017 tan Toyota Tacoma, 2015 white Scion FR-S and 2014 white Scion XB from Maui Toyota at 320 Hana Highway in Kahului.

The vehicles were stolen after Tacang and another suspect allegedly reached into the night deposit drop box at the dealership and took the keys, according to police.

In another case, a GMC Acadia was stolen from Jim Falk Motors of Maui at 260 Hana Highway.

The theft of another vehicle, a Nissan Frontier truck, was reported at Aloha Kia at 89 E. Wakea Ave.

Deputy Public Defender Heather Wolfenbarger said Tacang's background included being exposed to drugs at home while he was growing up. His father was sent to prison and deported, she said.

"These are not easy issues to overcome or deal with," she said.

She said Tacang now has a relationship and home with his girlfriend, as well as the prospect of a painting job.

"He's done with this life," she said. "He wants to take classes. He wants treatment. He wants to make changes."

Virtue said the more recent crimes occurred when Tacang "lost his way" after his mother died, relapsing and committing new offenses.

Tacang was released from jail on supervision in April after he entered no-contest pleas in his first five cases. At the time, a plea agreement recommended he be sentenced to a one-year jail term as part of four years' probation.

But after being released, Tacang "immediately" reoffended in two additional criminal cases, said 2nd Circuit Judge Kelsey Kawano.

"That tells me you are not a candidate at this time for supervision while you remain in the community," Kawano said to Tacang. "This is an egregious record."

Tacang's prior record includes 21 criminal convictions, two for felony offenses.

In 2011, he was resentenced to five years in prison for second-degree burglary and second-degree theft.

In another sentencing Jan. 28, a Lahaina man was placed on four years' probation for assaulting a police officer.

Kekoa Lansford, 33, had pleaded no contest to second-degree assault.

He was originally charged with first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer when he was arrested in August 2019.

Police were trying to arrest Lansford's girlfriend when he tried to grab one of the officers to get the officer away from her, said Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Teshima.

"This was a night out in Lahaina on Front Street," he said. "There was drinking going on."

Defense attorney Kristin Coccaro said Lansford "was acting in the heat of the moment, with his girlfriend being manhandled by the police."

"He understands that his reaction was probably not the best," she said.

She said alcohol wasn't a problem for Lansford.

"I messed up," he said in court. "It won't happen again."

Judge Kawano said the charge was serious, with Lansford hitting the officer "hard enough that his glasses broke."

"I appreciate that you're stepping up, taking responsibility," Kawano told Lansford. "I do recognize that your girlfriend was a big part of what was happening too."

Lansford was given credit for two days he previously spent in jail. He was ordered to participate in anger management classes.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.