Opinion ID: 2517375
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Akau's Conditional Plea and Sentence

Text: Prior to the circuit court's issuance of the orders denying Akau's motions to dismiss and for sentencing as a first-time drug offender, Akau entered a conditional guilty plea, pursuant to HRPP Rule 11(a)(2), quoted supra note 3, to the charges in the drug buy case. At the hearing on Akau's change of plea, the circuit court stated: THE COURT: I'm well aware of this case. This was a search warrant case initially. And then the government chose to use the undercover officers to do the  was it [confidential informants] or [undercover officers]? [AKAU'S COUNSEL]: [Undercover officers.] THE COURT: The undercover officers to get sales cases. And there's a squabble, which I totally understand, whether the law allows it. I tried real hard to either settle this case or to figure out a way to cut [Akau] some slack. I'm making a transcript now for the [a]ppellate [c]ourt. I couldn't do it, because I have an oath to follow the law. I can't just, based on the length of my foot or what I had for breakfast, take care of [Akau]. But I think I made a thorough record. So maybe the [a]ppellate [c]ourts might see it differently. On October 15, 2004, the circuit court accepted Akau's conditional plea, entered its judgment of guilty conviction, and sentenced Akau to a ten-year term of imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of six months, pursuant to HRS § 712-1242(3) (Supp.2003). [9] On December 8, 2004, Akau filed his notice of appeal.