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Two of Three Hawaii, Parole Board Members Resign, Shutting Board Down
On April 2, 2003, Lani Rae
Garcia'became the second member of the Hawaii Paroling Authority (the board) within 30 days to resign from the board. Garcia's resignation left the three-member board unable to conduct business. Garcia was charged with misdemeanor abuse of a family member after having been arrested on March 19, 2003, following the filing of a complaint against her by her boyfriend Richard Krokidas. In 2002, Garcia had successfully completed a six-month deferred adjudication probation after entering a no-contest plea on misdemeanor domestic abuse charges involving her daughter. Garcia pleaded not guilty to the current charges and requested a jury trial.
On March 11, 2003, the board's chairman, Alfred Beaver, resigned following an investigation into whether he abused his authority. Beaver had been on paid administrative leave since November 22, 2002. Beaver's attorney said he had been mislead by a parole officer into altering parole and sentencing for several parolees.
The sole remaining member, Mary Tiwanak, whose term was due to expire June 30, 2003, was unable to preside over the 350-400 parole hearings a month normally required of the board. According to Russell Pang, spokesman for Governor Linda Lingle, parole hearings will remain shut down until at least one replacement member can be found. "`You need at least two members,' Prang said. `There can be no parole hearings until this is resolved. . . . They're going to have to wait until the AG (attorney general) comes back with a decision of what can be done with this parole board."'
Sources: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, USA Today
Garcia'became the second member of the Hawaii Paroling Authority (the board) within 30 days to resign from the board. Garcia's resignation left the three-member board unable to conduct business. Garcia was charged with misdemeanor abuse of a family member after having been arrested on March 19, 2003, following the filing of a complaint against her by her boyfriend Richard Krokidas. In 2002, Garcia had successfully completed a six-month deferred adjudication probation after entering a no-contest plea on misdemeanor domestic abuse charges involving her daughter. Garcia pleaded not guilty to the current charges and requested a jury trial.
On March 11, 2003, the board's chairman, Alfred Beaver, resigned following an investigation into whether he abused his authority. Beaver had been on paid administrative leave since November 22, 2002. Beaver's attorney said he had been mislead by a parole officer into altering parole and sentencing for several parolees.
The sole remaining member, Mary Tiwanak, whose term was due to expire June 30, 2003, was unable to preside over the 350-400 parole hearings a month normally required of the board. According to Russell Pang, spokesman for Governor Linda Lingle, parole hearings will remain shut down until at least one replacement member can be found. "`You need at least two members,' Prang said. `There can be no parole hearings until this is resolved. . . . They're going to have to wait until the AG (attorney general) comes back with a decision of what can be done with this parole board."'
Sources: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, USA Today
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