Kealohas, Accused Cops Plead Not Guilty To Newest Charges
Federal prosecutors added three new charges in the corruption case involving the former police chief and his deputy prosecutor wife.
Retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, deputy city prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, were back in federal court Thursday, where they pleaded not guilty to the latest slew of charges brought against them.
Along with the Kealohas, four former and current Honolulu Police Department officers charged in the criminal conspiracy alongside them appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Puglisi. Veteran Sgt. Daniel Sellers, Lt. Derek Hahn,聽Ofc. Minh-Hung 鈥淏obby鈥 Nguyen and former Maj. Gerard Shiraishi, all pleaded not guilty as well.
Earlier this month, federal prosecutors added three charges to the now 23-count indictment in their criminal conspiracy case against the group, alleging聽additional obstruction and false statements charges.
At the hearing, attorneys also discussed how to handle an eventual sale of the Kealohas’ Hawaii Kai home, which faces foreclosure and has multiple liens against it.聽 The Kealohas are no longer paying the mortgage, according to Thursday’s discussion in court, and the proceeds from its sale could go into a court-managed account that would be dealt with after their trial.
Afterward, Louis Kealoha, wearing a blue-grey aloha shirt, jeans and Oakley-brand sunglasses, emerged from the courthouse arm-in-arm with Katherine, who wore a powder-blue zip-up shirt and black pants.
Louis Kealoha then delivered a brief statement to local media gathered outside but didn’t take questions.
“As usual, just like with all the other charges we plead not guilty because we’re not guilty,” he said. “We definitely look forward towards our day in court and we continue to thank the community, our friends and family for the continued support and love.”
Their trial is currently scheduled to take place in June.
