KEALAKEKUA — A man charged as an accomplice in a standoff incident in January in North Kohala will serve no additional jail time as part of a plea deal meted with prosecutors.
On Tuesday, Lucas R. Wolf, 28, pleaded not guilty to first-degree terroristic threatening and permits required before Judge Melvin Fujino in Kona Circuit Court as part of the agreement. In exchange for the plea, the state dismissed with prejudice the remaining 14 counts in the complaint superseding the indictment, which was filed in February.
Lucas Wolf was sentenced to one year jail and four years probation, with a deferred acceptance plea, allowing him the opportunity to keep the charges off his record. Incarcerated for 303 days, Wolf received credit for time served. Fujino waived the remaining days, allowing him to be released Tuesday from Hawaii Community Correctional Center.
One year after the case is dismissed, Fujino said, Wolf can apply to the state Department of the Attorney General to get his record expunged.
“I think it was a fair result,” said Wolf’s defense counsel, James Biven, after the plea and sentencing.
Charges stem from a reported Jan. 22 standoff in Hawi, where police say Britany Wolf, Lucas Wolf’s wife, shot at law enforcement officers on Alaalae Road.
Britany Wolf was indicted on two counts of first-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer in addition to 14 other charges.
Lucas Wolf was included in the indictment, but not charged with attempted murder. The husband and wife were appearing in court together throughout the year. However, during a Sept. 7 hearing, Lucas Wolf was found fit to stand trial and Britany Wolf was found unfit and was committed to the custody of the Director of Health in September.
Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson said Britany Wolf will remain at the state hospital until the defense files another motion to re-examine fitness.
In facts presented by Deputy Prosecutor Mark Disher on Tuesday, on the day of the incident, the Wolfs got into an argument with a man named Lance Caspary.
Caspary approached the couple to discuss an ongoing dispute. Disher said Lucas Wolf advanced on Caspary and Britany Wolf got a gun out of their vehicle and fired a shot in Caspary’s direction.
A police search of the Wolfs’ vehicle that day found a firearm for which neither had a permit.
Lucas Wolf spoke on his behalf Tuesday and read a letter he wrote. He talked about who he was, how he met his wife and what their life plans were prior to their arrest.
He said he was eagerly looking forward to his release so he can be able to help the community where he can, as well as provide a stable living situation for his wife upon her release.
“Even though this time has been extremely difficult for my wife, my family and myself, I still feel that I was able to be a service to those around me who needed a ray of light and hope in a dark place,” Lucas Wolf stated tot he court. “I am moving forward doing my utmost to look at this as somehow a blessing in disguise and I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak on my own behalf.”
After reading submitted letters from fellow HCCC inmates, Fujino agreed Lucas Wolf has been a positive influence in people’s lives. The judge encouraged him to look into the Going Home project, a program that assists those currently incarcerated in finding housing prior to their release.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.