The Maui News - In what a judge called "the deal of the century," a woman with more than 100 prior arrests was placed on probation last week for a series of thefts.
In a rare instance, 2nd Circuit Judge Richard Bissen said he had agreed to follow a plea agreement between the defense and prosecution in sentencing Brianita Ho'opai, 48, of Makawao.
Bissen said he committed to following the plea agreement before seeing a presentence investigation report, produced afterward, detailing Ho'opai's background, which includes 122 arrests and 29 felony convictions.
"I would have to say if I had not agreed to this sentence, you would not be receiving this sentence today," Bissen told Ho'opai. "This is probably the deal of the century."
Ho'opai was ordered to pay $7,498 in restitution as part of her probation.
