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WAILUKU -- A woman who reported relapsing after being released from jail was taken back into custody Wednesday to finish serving an 18-month jail term in a drug case.
Janice Young, 39, who also was placed on four years' probation, could be released early to enter residential drug treatment.
"The priority for you has to be your sobriety," 2nd Circuit Judge Kirstin Hamman said in sentencing Young. "You clearly have a drug addiction. As soon as you were released from custody, you went straight to using drugs."
Young had pleaded guilty to second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and two counts of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug. She was indicted with co-defendant John Andrade, 64, after police searched their apartment in Kahului on Oct. 12, 2020, and reported seizing cash and drugs.
Deputy Prosecutor Randy Oyama said the contraband found in the apartment included $48,480 in cash, 99.25 grams or more than 3.5 ounces of heroin and over an ounce of marijuana, as well as methamphetamine and methadone.
Police reported finding drugs in the refrigerator and a cat food bag, as well as in other rooms in the apartment. Digital gram scales also were seized.
"The defendant admitted she was distributing heroin," Oyama said, in recommending that Young be sentenced to a 10-year prison term.
"Based on the severity of the conduct and her performance on supervised release, nothing would change on probation," he said.
Young had spent about 11 months in jail before she was released on supervision May 20 after pleading guilty in the case. According to court records, she reported using drugs a couple of weeks after her release and was referred to treatment. She missed check-ins in July, September and October, court records show.
Young was in treatment for about a month before being discharged Sept. 14 after continuing to test positive for illegal drug use, Oyama said. He said reports indicated she used fentanyl, methamphetamine and ecstasy.
Deputy Public Defender Ben Lowenthal said it would be "extreme" to send Young to prison for 10 years because she relapsed.
"Opiate addiction is one of the most difficult addictions and struggles for anyone," he said. "The reality is people relapse."
He said Young understands what she needs to do.
"I want to be accountable for my actions," she said in court. "I apologize for messing up. When I relapsed, the drug that I chose to do was laced with other drugs. Now I can see how dangerous it is. When I think I'm using one drug, there's other drugs in it."
She said she was living at the shelter and working. "I'm trying my best," she said.
As part of her probation, Young was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs.
Andrade's case is pending.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.