Man pleads not guilty in yacht theft

By CHELSEA JENSEN

Stephens Media Hawaii

A 42-year-old Big Island man pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft in connection with the theft of a 47-foot yacht on Oct. 13 from Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in North Kona.

Richard Joseph Sherwood entered his plea Wednesday before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance. He is slated to go on trial at 8 a.m. March 18.

Bail for Sherwood was maintained at $25,000 during the hearing. He remains in Department of Public Safety custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

In addition, Strance also mandated for Sherwood a geographic ban from the Honokohau Small Boat Harbor. He must also not contact the boat’s co-owner, Leonard Mascari.

Sherwood was charged with first-degree theft in connection with the Oct. 13 theft of The Corsaire, a luxury yacht designed by William Gardner, one of the most prominent yacht designers in America, and built in Taiwan, according to the yacht’s co-owner Laura Mascari. The Mascaris had owned the boat since 1980 and they say it’s valued at $495,000.

Sherwood allegedly broke into the boat, packed a guitar and luggage aboard before taking it out of the harbor. The man reportedly asked a fisherman to help him get out of the slip, but only made it as far as 2 to 3 miles north to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park before running the vessel aground on the reef, just offshore of Aimakapa Fishpond.

According to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Hawaii District Boating Office, marine salvage company, Pineapple Custom, completed the removal of the vessel on Oct. 18. It was towed to a site designated by the U.S. Coast Guard and sunk. The owner’s insurance is covering the costs.

First-degree theft is a class B punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $25,000, according to Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.