HONOLULU (AP) — A man suspected of being part of a Maui meth trafficking ring and biting a law enforcement officer is pleading guilty.
Edward Vierra is scheduled to withdraw his previous not-guilty plea on Wednesday in federal court in Honolulu. Defense attorney Walter Rodby says Vierra is planning to plead guilty to conspiracy and two counts of assault.
Court documents say Vierra was under arrest last year after allegedly receiving a package of methamphetamine mailed from California to Maui. The documents say that after he and a co-defendant were taken to Honolulu, Vierra asked to use the restroom. A scuffle allegedly followed when he refused to return to the cell.
Prosecutors say he bit one officer twice and another officer was left with bruised ribs.