Accused ex-Waiakea basketball coach set to alter plea agreement
Looks like there's some drama brewing for former Hawaii hoops star, Alika Smith, aye? Apparently, he's got a court appearance lined up next month for a plea change. Seems like he's been facing some heat for allegedly pocketing team trip funds and putting on a phony check for hotel reimbursements[1][3].
According to court records, Smith, who's legal name is Justin Alika Pekelo Smith, is scheduled to appear before Judge Peter Kubota at 9 a.m. on July 9[1]. Back in 2024, he pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree theft and negotiating a worthless instrument[1].
The beef against Smith stems from allegations that he collected $3,627 from team members' parents for a hotel booking through Sports Travel LLC[1]. Instead of passing the money along, ol' Alika kept the dough for himself[1]. Smart move, huh? I guess not, since the Accounting General's office claims he wrote a bad check for the remaining balance owed to Sports Travel, knowing it would be declined[1]. Turns out the check bounced due to insufficient funds, and Smith never made good on the debt[1].
If you're curious, second-degree theft is a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in the slammer and a fine not exceeding ten large ones[2]. Negotiating a worthless instrument, on the other hand, is a misdemeanor, carrying up to a year in the clink and a fine not exceeding two grand[2].
As for Alika, he's got no priors and is currently out on a $25,000 bond[1]. He's got his Hilo defense attorney, Kai McGuire, fighting for him[1].
So, that's the lowdown on ol' Alika Smith and his impending court date. We'll just have to wait and see how this story unfolds, eh?
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[1] Hawaii Tribune-Herald article about Alika Smith's plea deal[2] Hawaii Revised Statutes on theft and writing worthless checks.
- Alika Smith, formerly known as Justin Alika Pekelo Smith, faces a court appearance next month for a plea change in Hawaii, numerously linked to a sports-related corruption scandal.
- The former Hawaii hoops star's alleged crimes involve second-degree theft and negotiating a worthless instrument, gaining notoriety by pocketing team trip funds and providing phony check reimbursements.
- If found guilty, Smith may be imprisoned for up to five years and fined ten thousand dollars for second-degree theft, while negotiating a worthless instrument could result in a year's incarceration and a fine of up to two thousand dollars.
- Smith's current status reveals no prior criminal history, with his Hilo defense attorney, Kai McGuire, presently working on his defense.
- The ongoing court case and its resolution will be covered under general-news headings alongside crime-and-justice segments due to Smith's sports background and alleged unlawful activities.
