Court hearing for Lucas Rivera

[TomK]

"He terrorized our neighborhood"

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news...ighborhood

"Sixteen people, including alleged victims, crowded into several rows of the courtroom gallery to witness Lucas Ryan Rivera plead not guilty to first-degree robbery, resisting an order to stop, revocation or modification of probation, marijuana possession, unauthorized possession of personal info and drug paraphernalia, two counts each of computer fraud, fraudulent use of a credit card and property damage, three counts each of driving a stolen vehicle and promoting a dangerous drug, and five counts of theft.

Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Rivera, who’s in custody in lieu of $436,000 bail, to appear for trial at 9 a.m. Nov. 6."

I believe most if not all the attending residents were from the lower HPP area and it can only be a good thing if the judge sees how many people are concerned and were allegedly affected by Rivera's behavior.

[Chunkster]

I hope you are right, Tom, but Nakamura has a terrible reputation for light sentencing and for allowing plea bargains with shockingly good terms for the criminals. We'll see what happens.

[TomK]

If that's true then I'm sure the prosecution knows that. Perhaps they can make a point and not offer or accept any plea deals? Just a wild idea.

[Chunkster]

It's the prosecution that agrees to the plea bargains and presents them to the judge along with the defending attorney. Judges in Hawaii have the power to reject plea deals, but only rarely do, and Nakamura is no exception. Based on some of the plea bargains I've seen, Mitch Roth would make a better social worker than prosecutor.

[TomK]

Rivera has a criminal history including crimes he's been charged with now. He's been given jail time in the past (albeit minimal and often suspended) yet that didn't stop him committing the same crimes again, at least according to local court records.

At some point, when criminals make life such a misery for everyone else, I think the expense and time of going through a proper trial rather than a plea deal would be worth it. There has to be a point when people like this should not be in the community. If the judge isn't given a plea deal to handle then whatever sentence he or she chooses, given a guilty verdict, can clearly be pinned on them, and at least makes it easier to see where the problem is.

I'm sure the police would also appreciate not having to arrest these types only to have to do the same thing over and over again. I think the plea deal system is fine if it's used correctly, but now, at least to me, it's used too often and doesn't serve justice.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

the alleged robbery victim identified Rivera as the man who punched him at least twice May 18 with brass knuckles as another man pointed a sawed-off shotgun at the victim
...
Several of those present — most of whom appeared to be senior citizens

Seems like when a thief starts punching the elderly, and thinks it's OK to work with a partner brandishing a sawed off shotgun - - that a certain line has been crossed. He's no longer capable of making a decision based in common decency when interacting with other people, and is best kept away from the community.

Perfect citizens: Those who do not like cake, but have a passion for producing eggs, butter, sugar & milk.

[MarkD]

Bernhard Goetz where are you when we need you?

[TomK]

If persistently violent and convicted criminals were kept out of the community, there would be no need for a Bernhard Goetz here.

[EightFingers]

Unfortunately, Rivera will never see this as a consequence of his actions. He'll look at it as an attack on him by the haole in HPP. The crimes he commits are simply an entitlement that he thinks the haole owe him.

[TomK]

Another reason to keep violent criminals out of the community.