WAILUKU — A man who had entered residential drug treatment was spared additional jail time when he was sentenced Thursday for crimes including pointing a rifle at and chasing a man who owed him money last year.

Albert Koa IV, 29, of Waiehu was placed on four years’ probation.

“He has taken the bull by the horns by engaging in treatment,” 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill said while following a plea agreement to sentence Koa. “Clearly, these were significant matters.

“We’ll give you the opportunity, having earned it, to be placed on probation.”

Koa spent more than eight months in jail before he was released Feb. 7 when he pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal property damage, two counts of unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and third-degree assault.

The charges were brought in four criminal cases.

In one case, Koa was in the parking lot of Queen Ka’ahumanu Center on May 30 and pointed a rifle at another man, which made him afraid, Deputy Prosecutor Randy Oyama said when Koa pleaded guilty. Oyama said the victim drove out of the parking lot and Koa chased the victim. Koa used his vehicle to hit the victim’s car several times, Oyama said.

Koa said he was at the mall and saw his friend who had said that he was going to pay back money he owed Koa.

“About a month later, I was still waiting,” Koa said when he pleaded guilty. “Yes, I got mad. I jumped out of the car and did point a rifle at him, and he drove off and I chased him and banged his car a couple of times.”

In another case, Koa had confidential information, such as identification cards, belonging to two women on May 31. Koa said he didn’t remember clearly because he was abusing drugs, “but I do remember having someone else’s credentials.”

In a third case, he possessed methamphetamine on May 31.

Koa also admitted he got into a fight with a friend and took his car without permission on May 2, 2021.

Deputy Public Defender Zach Raidmae said the crimes occurred while Koa “was basically living a rough life on the streets.”

“He has no problem when he’s sober,” Raidmae said.

He said Koa was working and “looking good.”

“The ball’s going to be in his court,” Raidmae said. “He’s got a lot of prison time hanging over his head.”

Koa was ordered to pay $1,521 in restitution to one of the women whose identification was stolen. He also was ordered not to possess or consume illegal drugs and to complete anger management treatment.

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