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General Discussion / your children are safe....
« on: April 30, 2024, 09:26:22 PM »
NOT!
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/05/01/psychologist-who-got-unusual-plea-deal-admitted-abusing-other-young-victims-court-filings-reveal/
The Hawaii child psychologist who agreed to plead guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old patient admitted to abusing more underage victims, court documents reveal, in a disturbing development that raises new questions about the case.
Records say Kona psychologist Reuben Lelah provided the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office with a written confession last fall in which he essentially admitted he’s a serial sex offender.
Despite being armed with that information, prosecutors offered Lelah a plea deal that will drastically reduce the time he spends behind bars for assaulting the 14-year-old. Under the deal, he was even allowed to pick his punishment — something a legal expert calls unusual.
According to the court filing, the prosecutor’s office received a package from Lelah last October.
Inside were “approximately 15 letters, handwritten, addressed to various individuals.” Court filings said the letters “contained admissions of conduct” against the 14-year-old and “additional minors that the defendant engaged in various degrees of manipulative or sexual conduct with.”
“These are statements. And apparently, they’re admissions from the defendant himself admitting not just to this crime, but other crimes,” said legal expert Victor Bakke.
Also included in the package from Lelah was a note to a deputy prosecutor. In it, the psychologist wrote, “I have tried to have my attorneys send this letter and journal entries to you but was unsuccessful. So I am sending it to you against their advice.”
Bakke said having a defendant send a written confession to prosecutors is “very rare.”
He added that the plea deal is all the more surprising given that prosecutors knew about additional victims. “It makes the plea agreement even more irregular now because you have a dangerous person,” Bakke said. “And they gave this weird plea deal where they gave him the opportunity to ask for probation or prison and just kind of left it up to him.”
Camron Hurt, program manager for government watchdog group Common Cause Hawaii, agreed.
“It’s our worst fears come true. There were more victims. There were more innocent children who were hurt, who were taken advantage of, who were abused by this monster,” Hurt said.
“Somebody who is a serial abuser of children. I don’t see that person really needing a plea deal.”
Bakke said he doesn’t understand why prosecutors wouldn’t seek a tougher sentence.
“Now that we know this guy’s actually maybe way more dangerous than previously known to the public, it begs the question, what was the problem with the prosecutors?” he said. “Why aren’t they going for the maximum in this case because he’s clearly a danger and a serial offender?”
HNN Investigates asked the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office why it decided to offer a plea deal instead of seeking the maximum 20-year sentence.
Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said in a statement:
“Our office has been in contact with the victim in this case, who is now an adult. Our office considers a victim’s desired outcome, potential harm and trauma, and input . . . especially in serious cases like this. While I cannot comment on specifics of this case as it is still pending, our office will be arguing for the maximum 10-year prison term.”
Waltjen added that the prosecutor’s office handed over the contents of the package from Lelah to the Hawaii Police Department, adding investigators have not yet referred any additional cases.
The prosecutor did not respond to a question about how many victims his office is aware of.
Hurt believes Lelah’s victims, along with the people of Hawaii County, deserve better.
“You’re accountable to the community. You’re accountable to those parents as to why you gave that deal,” Hurt told Hawaii News Now. “Did you really think that you couldn’t win that case in court? What was the reason? And you need to be forthcoming about that reason.”
HNN Investigates also emailed Lelah, asking him directly how many youth he’s sexually abused. We have not gotten a response.
Initially, Lelah was facing 20 years without the possibility of probation.
But with the plea deal, he could serve anywhere between 18 months and 10 years behind bars.
A judge is scheduled to hand down his sentence May 24.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/05/01/psychologist-who-got-unusual-plea-deal-admitted-abusing-other-young-victims-court-filings-reveal/
The Hawaii child psychologist who agreed to plead guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old patient admitted to abusing more underage victims, court documents reveal, in a disturbing development that raises new questions about the case.
Records say Kona psychologist Reuben Lelah provided the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office with a written confession last fall in which he essentially admitted he’s a serial sex offender.
Despite being armed with that information, prosecutors offered Lelah a plea deal that will drastically reduce the time he spends behind bars for assaulting the 14-year-old. Under the deal, he was even allowed to pick his punishment — something a legal expert calls unusual.
According to the court filing, the prosecutor’s office received a package from Lelah last October.
Inside were “approximately 15 letters, handwritten, addressed to various individuals.” Court filings said the letters “contained admissions of conduct” against the 14-year-old and “additional minors that the defendant engaged in various degrees of manipulative or sexual conduct with.”
“These are statements. And apparently, they’re admissions from the defendant himself admitting not just to this crime, but other crimes,” said legal expert Victor Bakke.
Also included in the package from Lelah was a note to a deputy prosecutor. In it, the psychologist wrote, “I have tried to have my attorneys send this letter and journal entries to you but was unsuccessful. So I am sending it to you against their advice.”
Bakke said having a defendant send a written confession to prosecutors is “very rare.”
He added that the plea deal is all the more surprising given that prosecutors knew about additional victims. “It makes the plea agreement even more irregular now because you have a dangerous person,” Bakke said. “And they gave this weird plea deal where they gave him the opportunity to ask for probation or prison and just kind of left it up to him.”
Camron Hurt, program manager for government watchdog group Common Cause Hawaii, agreed.
“It’s our worst fears come true. There were more victims. There were more innocent children who were hurt, who were taken advantage of, who were abused by this monster,” Hurt said.
“Somebody who is a serial abuser of children. I don’t see that person really needing a plea deal.”
Bakke said he doesn’t understand why prosecutors wouldn’t seek a tougher sentence.
“Now that we know this guy’s actually maybe way more dangerous than previously known to the public, it begs the question, what was the problem with the prosecutors?” he said. “Why aren’t they going for the maximum in this case because he’s clearly a danger and a serial offender?”
HNN Investigates asked the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office why it decided to offer a plea deal instead of seeking the maximum 20-year sentence.
Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said in a statement:
“Our office has been in contact with the victim in this case, who is now an adult. Our office considers a victim’s desired outcome, potential harm and trauma, and input . . . especially in serious cases like this. While I cannot comment on specifics of this case as it is still pending, our office will be arguing for the maximum 10-year prison term.”
Waltjen added that the prosecutor’s office handed over the contents of the package from Lelah to the Hawaii Police Department, adding investigators have not yet referred any additional cases.
The prosecutor did not respond to a question about how many victims his office is aware of.
Hurt believes Lelah’s victims, along with the people of Hawaii County, deserve better.
“You’re accountable to the community. You’re accountable to those parents as to why you gave that deal,” Hurt told Hawaii News Now. “Did you really think that you couldn’t win that case in court? What was the reason? And you need to be forthcoming about that reason.”
HNN Investigates also emailed Lelah, asking him directly how many youth he’s sexually abused. We have not gotten a response.
Initially, Lelah was facing 20 years without the possibility of probation.
But with the plea deal, he could serve anywhere between 18 months and 10 years behind bars.
A judge is scheduled to hand down his sentence May 24.
3
General Discussion / I feel so safe...
« on: April 29, 2024, 07:49:57 PM »
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/30/sources-inmate-missing-after-court-transport-was-chased-off-jail-property-by-corrections-officers/
An Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate was somehow lost during a court transport Friday afternoon and then told to leave the jail property when corrections officers didn’t know who he was, sources revealed to HNN Investigates.
Officials are still trying to piece together the embarrassing series of events.
On Saturday, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation issued a news release that said 39-year old Isaac Edayan had escaped. Edayan appeared in district court on Friday morning for an arraignment on misdemeanor traffic violations and he was in plainclothes.
Source said he went missing during the transport back to OCCC — and was apparently hanging out in the jail parking lot. Corrections officers noticed him and Edayan was briefly detained then released because officers didn’t know who he was — or that he was supposed to be inside.
An Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate was somehow lost during a court transport Friday afternoon and then told to leave the jail property when corrections officers didn’t know who he was, sources revealed to HNN Investigates.
Officials are still trying to piece together the embarrassing series of events.
On Saturday, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation issued a news release that said 39-year old Isaac Edayan had escaped. Edayan appeared in district court on Friday morning for an arraignment on misdemeanor traffic violations and he was in plainclothes.
Source said he went missing during the transport back to OCCC — and was apparently hanging out in the jail parking lot. Corrections officers noticed him and Edayan was briefly detained then released because officers didn’t know who he was — or that he was supposed to be inside.
4
Firearms and Accessories / new BCM handguard rail - Raider
« on: April 29, 2024, 07:43:02 AM »
https://bravocompanyusa.com/bcm-raider-m10-rail-m-lok-compatible-mounting-slots/
If its anything like a KMR it is solid. I was impressed by the tight tolerances of the KMR. I used a heat gun to get it to slip over the barrel nut. Has been solid no flex and after a class not much barrel heat to worry about. I have a mid length with a FSB and it didn't get hot to bother me at all
If its anything like a KMR it is solid. I was impressed by the tight tolerances of the KMR. I used a heat gun to get it to slip over the barrel nut. Has been solid no flex and after a class not much barrel heat to worry about. I have a mid length with a FSB and it didn't get hot to bother me at all
5
Firearms and Accessories / Sig M7 and new cartrdige 277 Fury
« on: April 29, 2024, 07:25:08 AM »
Impressive ballistics from 277 over 3000 fps with a 113 grain bullet out of a 13" barrel. Solid gun and handguard. Full auto fire and no one complained about the barrel heat.
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Political Discussion / most dangerous crosswalk on Oahu
« on: April 28, 2024, 03:51:26 PM »7
General Discussion / no need worry if you Mayor B.
« on: April 27, 2024, 03:09:17 PM »
You got your own personal security at your whim when you can't handle negotiations and things get "heated". All the while your own constituents are disarmed - by you.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/28/officers-posted-outside-mayors-office-after-alleged-heated-discussion-with-ocean-safety-chief-unpaid-leave/
Officers posted outside Mayor’s office after alleged ‘heated discussion’ with Ocean Safety chief on unpaid leave
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/28/officers-posted-outside-mayors-office-after-alleged-heated-discussion-with-ocean-safety-chief-unpaid-leave/
Officers posted outside Mayor’s office after alleged ‘heated discussion’ with Ocean Safety chief on unpaid leave
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General Discussion / Freedom Fest
« on: April 27, 2024, 11:14:15 AM »9
Reviews / Malkoff Devices
« on: April 25, 2024, 06:33:24 PM »
Great warranty from Malkoff. I had a 12 year old drop in head for my M951 light lense fall off after a class and they replaced it 
https://malkoffdevices.com/
https://malkoffdevices.com/
10
Political Discussion / dumb people in charge
« on: April 25, 2024, 05:53:23 PM »
same people that deny you your 2a rights
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/26/hawaii-taxpayers-will-cough-up-18m-state-workers-mistakes-misbehavior/
Hawaii taxpayers are on the hook for more than $18 million this year to settle lawsuits filed by dozens of people and companies.
Lawmakers, frustrated over repeated failures, did try to make some departments pay the cash themselves.
Altogether, the state Attorney General asked for nearly $19 million to settle claims and lawsuits over mistakes or misbehavior by government workers.
Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads has had to approve hundreds of settlements over the years.
“First of all, it’s just very frustrating, because it is taxpayers’ money, and there are significant amounts of money involved,” Rhoads said.
This year, Attorney General Anne Lopez ended up requesting payment of 40 claims, adding up to over $18 million.
The biggest settlements were both for neglect of repairs by the Department of Transportation.
The family of 21-year-old Joshua Banks will receive $3.9 million. Banks was killed instantly when he hit a guardrail on H-3 that had gone unrepaired for 18 months.
The family’s attorney, Ilana Waxman, said DOT regulations required the repair to begin within 72 hours.
“It’s a very, very tragic accident, but one that could have been prevented if the state had been doing its job and repairing the guardrail properly,” she said.
Waxman said after the accident, DOT did improve its process for expediting guardrail repairs.
The second largest settlement — $2.95 million — was for allowing a tree root to buckle and crack the road on a popular Maui bike route.
Avid bicyclist David Lawrence fell and was disabled for life, according to his attorney Michael Cruise.
“Their failure is that they didn’t do anything,” he said. “This condition appears for a number of years and for whatever reason, it just was never fixed.”
Cruise said in researching the accident, the road damage was apparent on Google Earth, but still missed by roving maintenance crews.
Rhoads said he is bothered most by repeated issues.
“It does seem like there’s a pattern with transportation and corrections that we just get claims over and over and over again,” he said.
So Rhoads’ committee sent a message about that designed to sting the departments pocketbooks.
Among the lawsuits against the prison system was a case of guards sexually assaulting inmates at the women’s facility. It led to a settlement of $2 million, but the Judiciary Committee voted to have the Department of Public Safety pay $800,000 of that out of its own budget.
In the case of DLNR Conservation Enforcement Officer Ethan Ferguson, who raped a girl at a state park, the committee said of the $1.25 million settlement, $500,000 should come out of the DLNR and Department of Human Resources budgets.
“The message obviously is please don’t get any more of these claims — do what it takes to stop getting them,” Rhoads said.
After the departments complained that they would have to cut services to pay the legal settlements and the attorney general testified that “the Department has a longstanding policy of advising agencies as to how to avoid claims,” lawmakers decided not to penalize the departments.
The bill funding claims against the state is in conference committee, but approval is certain.
Failing to fund the settlements would send many of the cases back to court, potentially costing taxpayers even more.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/26/hawaii-taxpayers-will-cough-up-18m-state-workers-mistakes-misbehavior/
Hawaii taxpayers are on the hook for more than $18 million this year to settle lawsuits filed by dozens of people and companies.
Lawmakers, frustrated over repeated failures, did try to make some departments pay the cash themselves.
Altogether, the state Attorney General asked for nearly $19 million to settle claims and lawsuits over mistakes or misbehavior by government workers.
Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads has had to approve hundreds of settlements over the years.
“First of all, it’s just very frustrating, because it is taxpayers’ money, and there are significant amounts of money involved,” Rhoads said.
This year, Attorney General Anne Lopez ended up requesting payment of 40 claims, adding up to over $18 million.
The biggest settlements were both for neglect of repairs by the Department of Transportation.
The family of 21-year-old Joshua Banks will receive $3.9 million. Banks was killed instantly when he hit a guardrail on H-3 that had gone unrepaired for 18 months.
The family’s attorney, Ilana Waxman, said DOT regulations required the repair to begin within 72 hours.
“It’s a very, very tragic accident, but one that could have been prevented if the state had been doing its job and repairing the guardrail properly,” she said.
Waxman said after the accident, DOT did improve its process for expediting guardrail repairs.
The second largest settlement — $2.95 million — was for allowing a tree root to buckle and crack the road on a popular Maui bike route.
Avid bicyclist David Lawrence fell and was disabled for life, according to his attorney Michael Cruise.
“Their failure is that they didn’t do anything,” he said. “This condition appears for a number of years and for whatever reason, it just was never fixed.”
Cruise said in researching the accident, the road damage was apparent on Google Earth, but still missed by roving maintenance crews.
Rhoads said he is bothered most by repeated issues.
“It does seem like there’s a pattern with transportation and corrections that we just get claims over and over and over again,” he said.
So Rhoads’ committee sent a message about that designed to sting the departments pocketbooks.
Among the lawsuits against the prison system was a case of guards sexually assaulting inmates at the women’s facility. It led to a settlement of $2 million, but the Judiciary Committee voted to have the Department of Public Safety pay $800,000 of that out of its own budget.
In the case of DLNR Conservation Enforcement Officer Ethan Ferguson, who raped a girl at a state park, the committee said of the $1.25 million settlement, $500,000 should come out of the DLNR and Department of Human Resources budgets.
“The message obviously is please don’t get any more of these claims — do what it takes to stop getting them,” Rhoads said.
After the departments complained that they would have to cut services to pay the legal settlements and the attorney general testified that “the Department has a longstanding policy of advising agencies as to how to avoid claims,” lawmakers decided not to penalize the departments.
The bill funding claims against the state is in conference committee, but approval is certain.
Failing to fund the settlements would send many of the cases back to court, potentially costing taxpayers even more.
11
Political Discussion / fluid gender weather
« on: April 22, 2024, 07:21:26 AM »
when you view things through a certain lense....this author is cray cray
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/this-weather-pattern-is-known-for-gender-bending/
You are probably asking yourself how on earth a weather pattern can switch genders.
Well, the easy answer is that gender (masculine, feminine, etc…) is socially constructed identities rather than the biological sex designations of male, female or intersex. We apply our socially constructed notions of gender to inanimate objects, animals and people. So, why not weather?
We are talking about the El Niño and La Niña phenomena. The Spanish names for these weather patterns indicate the masculine through the name El Niño while the name La Niña indicates the feminine.
Scientists have confirmed that El Niño is switching over to La Niña.
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/this-weather-pattern-is-known-for-gender-bending/
You are probably asking yourself how on earth a weather pattern can switch genders.
Well, the easy answer is that gender (masculine, feminine, etc…) is socially constructed identities rather than the biological sex designations of male, female or intersex. We apply our socially constructed notions of gender to inanimate objects, animals and people. So, why not weather?
We are talking about the El Niño and La Niña phenomena. The Spanish names for these weather patterns indicate the masculine through the name El Niño while the name La Niña indicates the feminine.
Scientists have confirmed that El Niño is switching over to La Niña.
12
Political Discussion / Too bad we don't want these industries here in Hawaii
« on: April 21, 2024, 01:20:07 PM »
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/rockets-robots-and-more-at-uh-astronomy-open-house/
Astronomy? No telescopes on Hawaiian land!
Astronomy? No telescopes on Hawaiian land!
13
Deals and Sales / Area 419 10% off today
« on: April 19, 2024, 07:43:02 AM »14
General Discussion / What would you do?
« on: April 17, 2024, 07:22:53 PM »
if this happened in Hawaii and criminals are stealing your brand new 2003 Toyota Tacoma - lifted. Hawaii doesn't have stand your ground and the news will probably say the criminals were just trying to provide for their family with your Tacoma.
https://twitter.com/YayAreaNews/status/1780740966091284819
https://twitter.com/YayAreaNews/status/1780740966091284819
15
General Discussion / Did someone tell criminals crime is down?
« on: April 17, 2024, 05:27:23 PM »
Apparently they never cared about the memo the Mayor and Chief put out...
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/17/brazen-thieves-target-waikele-premium-outlets-shop-stealing-dozens-sunglasses/
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/17/brazen-thieves-target-waikele-premium-outlets-shop-stealing-dozens-sunglasses/
16
Political Discussion / Why 2a is on the back burner and more often in the bonfire
« on: April 17, 2024, 11:55:13 AM »
We aren't going to the right partays...
https://www.hawaiifreepress.com/Articles-Main/ID/40827/Naming-Names-Airports-Division-Ran-Late-Night-Parties-Where-Hawaii-Politicians-Raked-In-Money
https://www.hawaiifreepress.com/Articles-Main/ID/40827/Naming-Names-Airports-Division-Ran-Late-Night-Parties-Where-Hawaii-Politicians-Raked-In-Money
17
General Discussion / When guns are banned
« on: April 13, 2024, 07:14:04 AM »
and an evil person attacks with a knife the only thing you can do is..
‘Run, run, run’: Chaos at a Sydney mall as 6 people stabbed to death, and the suspect fatally shot
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/13/man-stabbed-death-5-people-sydney-shopping-center-was-fatally-shot-by-police/
‘Run, run, run’: Chaos at a Sydney mall as 6 people stabbed to death, and the suspect fatally shot
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/04/13/man-stabbed-death-5-people-sydney-shopping-center-was-fatally-shot-by-police/
18
Deals and Sales / PSA M4 upper for $160
« on: April 12, 2024, 07:23:00 PM »20
Political Discussion / climate clowns on The View
« on: April 09, 2024, 07:25:00 AM »
https://www.foxnews.com/media/the-views-sunny-hostin-blames-eclipse-earthquake-cicadas-climate-change
"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin blamed Monday’s solar eclipse, Friday’s earthquake and the expected cicada breeding season on "climate change."
"All those things together would maybe lead one to believe that either climate change exists or something is really going on," she said Monday.
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was felt across New York and New Jersey on Friday; on Monday, the highly anticipated solar eclipse swept across the continental U.S.
Hostin also claimed that her studio makeup artist "put on her coat" and "ran down the hallway" during the earthquake, saying, "Jesus is coming" and "The rapture is here."
"The View" co-host Sunny Hostin blamed Monday’s solar eclipse, Friday’s earthquake and the expected cicada breeding season on "climate change."
"All those things together would maybe lead one to believe that either climate change exists or something is really going on," she said Monday.
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was felt across New York and New Jersey on Friday; on Monday, the highly anticipated solar eclipse swept across the continental U.S.
Hostin also claimed that her studio makeup artist "put on her coat" and "ran down the hallway" during the earthquake, saying, "Jesus is coming" and "The rapture is here."