Defended ex-Waiakea basketball coach set to reconsider guilty plea
Rewritten Article:
Looks like a plea bargain is on the horizon for Hawaii basketball player Alika Smith, formerly known as Justin Alika Pekelo Smith.
You've got it! Alika Smith, a notable figure in Hawaii's basketball scene, is allegedly working on a plea deal. Court records show that a change of plea hearing is set for July 9 at 9 a.m., presided over by Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota.
Initially, Smith pleaded not guilty to two charges: second-degree theft and negotiating a worthless instrument on September 11, 2024.
Who's this guy, you ask? Well, he's a former coach at Waiakea High School and a one-time standout player at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. However, he finds himself in hot water due to allegations of stealing money intended for hotel bookings during a basketball team trip.
The state Deputy Attorney General, Thomas Michener, is handling the case.
According to the complaint, Smith booked hotel accommodations for the Waiakea High School boys' basketball team through Sports Travel LLC in December 2022, at a cost of $3,788.75. The investigation suggests that he collected $3,627 from the players' parents and pocketed the money instead of forwarding it to the travel company.
He apparently paid a deposit of $500 to the company, but instead of covering the remaining balance, wrote a bad check—knowing it would bounce. You guessed it—the check did bounce, due to insufficient funds. Smith failed to make up the difference, leaving Sports Travel out of pocket.
Second-degree theft can land you up to five years behind bars and a $10,000 fine. Negotiating a worthless instrument is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Smith has a clean criminal record, but at the time of writing, he's out on a $25,000 bond. Defending him is Hilo-based attorney Kai McGuire.
Be sure to email John Burnett at [email protected] for more updates. Want to stay informed? Subscribe today for just $10 a month!
- Despite his notable past in Hawaiian sports, particularly basketball, Alika Smith, also known as Justin Alika Pekelo Smith, is currently facing legal issues in general-news, specifically involving second-degree theft and negotiating a worthless instrument.
- Meanwhile, in the sports section, it seems that Hawaii basketball player Alika Smith is planning to negotiate a plea deal over the theft of funds meant for hotel bookings for a basketball team trip, which also involves crime-and-justice charges.
