Plea agreement reached for one suspect in North Kohala standoff

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 3rd Circuit Court as part of a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office. 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, the 28-year-old received credit for time served. Fujino waived the remaining days, allowing him to be released from Hawaii Community Correctional Center on Tuesday.

One year after the case is dismissed with prejudice, Fujino said, Lucas Wolf can apply to the Department of the Attorney General to get his record expunged.

“I think it was a fair result,” said Lucas Wolf’s defense counsel James Biven after the plea and sentencing.

Charges stem from a reported standoff in Hawi on Jan. 22 where police say Britany Wolf, Lucas’ wife, shot at law enforcement officers on Alaalae Road.

The couple was both arrested and charged. 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 had been appearing in court together throughout the year. However, during the 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.

“All this made Lance feel threatened,” Disher said. “In this case, Lucas Wolf is being charged as an accomplice to his wife’s actions.”

A police search of the Wolf’s vehicle that day found a firearm that neither had a permit for.

“We don’t contest the facts,” Biven said.

Lucas Wolf spoke on his behalf and read a letter he wrote to Fujino. He talked about who he was, how he met his wife and what their life plans were prior to their arrest.

While they were working toward starting a shaved ice stand using only local products, Lucas Wolf read they had a long-term goal of starting a foundation to help the community.

Their hope for the foundation was to help bridge the gap in the community to connect believers to a positive and healthy lifestyle where people could find a sense of belonging and a support where they are accepted. The foundation would also be productive in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

“Through this time of hardship, I discovered the reality in how badly the community is in need of a foundation such as the one mentioned above,” Lucas Wolf said.

Lucas Wolf went on to say he was a witness to a side of life he’d never seen before, a yearning in people’s hearts to better themselves. These individuals, he explained, had no hope upon their release because they would be homeless and around the same bad influences that put them there.

“Never in my life have I seen so many people in need of a loving support system,” Lucas Wolf said. “During my time in HCCC, I’ve held a Bible study group three to four times a week where I’ve seen many men come to God and come to the realization that they need to change their lives.”

Lucas Wolf said he is 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. “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.

“… You’re correct, a lot of them commenting on how you’ve helped other people, spiritually and also just being there for them,” the judge said.

Fujino encouraged Lucas Wolf to look into the Going Home project, a program that assists those currently incarcerated in finding housing prior to their release.