Pubdate: Fri, 02 Apr 2010
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Copyright: 2010 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Contact: http://archives.starbulletin.com/forms/letterform.html
Website: http://www.starbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196
Author: Gary T. Kubota

OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY IN LAS VEGAS POT CASE

One Honolulu police officer has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor 
obstruction charge while another is facing a preliminary hearing in a 
marijuana-related felony in Las Vegas.

Shayne Souza, 47, attached to police specialized services and an 
officer with 20 years of service, will not have a misdemeanor 
marijuana charge pursued against him and has completed a list of 
court conditions that included staying out of trouble for six months, 
the Clark County District Attorney's Office said yesterday.

Souza pleaded guilty Wednesday in Clark County Justice Court to 
obstructing a public officer, a misdemeanor.

"The case (against Souza) is now closed," said Tess Driver, executive 
assistant to the district attorney.

The district attorney is continuing to pursue charges against police 
officer Kevin Fujioka, a 13-year veteran attached to the Pearl City station.

Fujioka, 38, is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing May 11 
on a felony charge of being under the influence of a controlled 
substance. He has been released pending trial.

Fujioka and Souza were in Las Vegas to participate in a softball 
tournament when they were arrested on Aug. 15 near Desert Breeze 
Park, about six miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.

Park police noticed a van parked across stalls and found Souza and 
Fujioka in the van, Driver said.

Souza and Fujioka got out of the van and ran for a time before being 
apprehended, and Souza was pepper-sprayed, according to a Clark 
County spokeswoman.

Honolulu police spokeswoman Michelle Yu said Fujioka and Souza have 
been suspended and placed on leave with pay, pending the outcome of 
an internal administrative investigation.
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