Former MPD officer pleads guilty to public corruption charges

Brandon Saffeels could face up to 20 years in prison

Former Maui Police Department officer Brandon Saffeels pleaded guilty Wednesday to a seven-count federal indictment charging him with public corruption for allegedly soliciting a sexual relationship with a woman he arrested two years ago.

Saffeels, 36, entered the pleas to the charges of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi.

According to court documents and information provided in court, Saffeels arrested the woman in the early morning hours of July 25, 2019, for driving under the influence of an intoxicant after a crash. After she was released from custody, Saffeels began communicating with the woman over the phone and through text messages, telling her he would help her "beat" the case being brought against her by the Maui County prosecuting attorney, according to the information.

"Saffeels explained that he would provide perjured testimony at her trial so that the court would throw it out or the jury would find in her favor," according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii. "However, Saffeels told (the woman) that she would have to meet in person for him to help her.

"At one point during the course of their communications, he invited her to come to his house and told her to bring clothes."

Police reported that Saffeels was fired Nov. 22, 2019, after being placed on unpaid leave in August after an investigation. He had been an MPD officer for about four years.

In a statement, acting Hawaii District U.S. Attorney Judith Philips said Saffeels' conduct violated MPD's principles of integrity, compassion, fairness and service.

"As a sworn police officer, Mr. Saffeels was charged with serving the public," Philips said. "According to the indictment, he instead used the power bestowed upon him by the people of Maui to solicit a sexual relationship. Thanks to the MPD's swift action to remove Mr. Saffeels from its ranks and the FBI's diligent efforts to bring him to justice, the public can rest assured that such conduct will not be tolerated."

Saffeels faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the seven counts when he is sentenced Oct. 13.

Court records show Saffeels appeared by videoconference for the hearing Wednesday. He has been free on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

The FBI investigated the case.

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