Jail for indecent assault A COMPELLING and “highly personal” cultural report contributed to Maui Waitohi being allowed the opportunity to apply for home detention after he indecently assaulted a woman. Judge Phillip Crayton sentenced Waitohi 21 months in prison after he entered the victim’s home at night and assaulted her in what the judge said would have been a very distressing incident. He also received a 16-month prison sentence for a charge of burglary, to be served concurrently. Waitohi has been in prison since April. The judge said he accepted the findings of the cultural report, which detailed Waitohi’s childhood and personal circumstances, as an explanation for the offending. The report coupled with Waitohi’s expression of remorse contributed to a “significant” credit allowed by the judge. The resulting 21-month prison sentence would have been converted to a sentence of electronically monitored home detention, but issues with Waitohi’s proposed address meant Judge Crayton did not do so last week. Waitohi was granted leave to apply for home detention if he was able to find a suitable address.
“Merry Christmas babe” AS Taumarunui woman Naumai Tupara walked from the dock to the cells in Te Kūiti District Court the words “Merry Christmas babe” were shouted from the public gallery. Tupara was arrested in Te Kūiti on a warrant after a no-show at Taumarunui District Court. She will stay in custody until mid-January, when court returns in Taumarunui after the Christmas break.
Safe stealer sentenced A MAN who stole a safe from a Te Kūiti pub was sentenced to almost six months of home detention. John Thomas Ahcheung must serve a sentence of five months and three weeks home detention and pay $1000 in reparation after he burgled the pub with a hammer in August. “You are the author of your own misfortune,” Judge Crayton said. The judge considered the presence of the weapon as evidence Ahcheung had given the crime some thought beforehand, and the premeditation concerned him. He warned Ahcheung about what could happen if he continued to commit burglaries. “Burglars go to prison, and they go to prison often.”
Charge denied A CHARGE of assault on a person in a family relationship was denied by Tauroa William Smith, who pleaded not guilty last week. He is next due to appear in February.
RMA charge admitted A NEW Plymouth-based company has pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by Waikato Regional Council under the Resource Management Act. Peter Sole Transport admitted contravening the Resource Management Act, pleading guilty to charges relating to restricted land use and an abatement notice last week.
Convicted SENTENCING will happen in the new year for Buddy Crawford Kawhena, who last week pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition when he did not have the right to and unlawful hunting.
Out of jail A MAN who locked a woman in a car, drove around and refused to let her out until the car eventually ran out of fuel, heard last week he would be allowed out of prison. Stephen Codye Sanders pleaded guilty by audio visual link from prison to twice contravening a protection order — once physically and once psychologically — and driving while suspended. Judge Crayton reached an end sentence point of eight months’ imprisonment for the offending, which was short enough to be substituted with home detention. Allowing for the two months Sanders has already served in prison, he must serve another two months of home detention. He was also disqualified from driving until the end of February. The disqualification was backdated until November 25, when his suspension would have ended, because of his time in custody.
Spray painter sentenced TE KŪITI woman Korohina Taitoko-Dewes went on a crime spree in August when she graffitied a local liquor store, assaulted a customer in a shop, stole a bottle of vodka and was abusive to a service station employee on three days. She must serve 60 hours of community work, pay $200 in reparation for the cleaning costs and $12.99 for the bottle of vodka.
