WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Molokai man has pleaded no contest to manslaughter and other crimes in the shooting death of a teenager whose body was found on a dirt road in 2014. ADVERTISING WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Molokai
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Molokai man has pleaded no contest to manslaughter and other crimes in the shooting death of a teenager whose body was found on a dirt road in 2014.
Forty-year-old Jeffrey Kalani Davis reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and entered his pleas Monday to manslaughter, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and prohibited possession of a firearm. He originally was charged with second-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Koshari Kahikili.
Jury selection was set to begin Monday but was delayed while the defense and prosecution worked to reach a settlement in the case.
“We think it was a fair resolution,” Deputy Prosecutor Mark Simonds said after Davis changed his pleas.
According to court testimony, Davis and the teen had been at a party the night before Kahikili’s body was found on a road leading to Kamehameha V Highway in Mapulehu, Molokai on May 20, 2014.
Davis has been held at the Maui Community Correctional Center on $1.2 million bail ever since his December 2014 arrest.
Simonds said the prosecution will seek consecutive prison terms totaling up to 45 years for Davis when he is sentenced in March.
Davis’ attorney, Ben Summit, said his client is hopeful that he will get a lesser sentence.
“He’s looking forward to the sentencing so he can add some information for the judge’s decision,” Summit said. “He’s upset about his friend’s death.”
