Kula man barred from hunting with firearm
By MELISSA TANJI, Staff Writer
WAILUKU – A Kula man found illegally hunting with an unregistered gun is
barred from hunting again with a firearm.
Justin Poisson, who was convicted of hunting on private property and
failing to register a gun, was sentenced Friday to five years’ probation
and 200 hours of community service.
Second Circuit Judge Richard Bissen also denied the 28-year-old man a
chance to clear the felony conviction from his record, which would have
allowed him to posses a firearm again. As a convicted felon, Poisson is
barred from owning or handling any firearms or ammunition.
Although both the prosecution and defense asked Bissen to allow Poisson
a chance to clear his record, Bissen denied the request, saying
Poisson’s actions were “intentional.”
The judge noted that Poisson had possessed the gun for six years, but
never registered it. Bissen added that since Poisson had a hunting
license and took a hunter education course, he should have known better.
“My concern here is it’s not an isolated incident,” Bissen said.
It was probably only the first time Poisson was caught, but not the
first time he has been hunting illegally, he said.
Poisson apologized in court.
“I know what I did was wrong,” he said, adding that he has not been
hunting since his arrest.
Poisson had pleaded no contest to two firearms violations, for
first-degree criminal trespassing and for promotion of a detrimental
drug found when he was arrested in May.
Police said authorized hunters put Poisson under citizens’ arrest for
trespassing when he was found unlawfully hunting on Kaonoulu Ranch land
on the slopes of Haleakala.
Bissen ordered the unregistered weapon to be forfeited.
In an unrelated case in 2nd Circuit Court last week, 19-year-old Qhad
Lynch was sentenced to five years’ probation with credit for the 123
days he has spent in jail for a burglary in Kihei in February.
Judge Joseph Cardoza also ordered Lynch on Friday to not have any
contact with the victim in the case.
Lynch had pleaded no contest to first-degree burglary, first-degree
unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree theft.
The charges stem from a burglary of a Halama Street residence, along
with a break-in of a Lincoln Navigator, Maui Jim sunglasses, a tool set,
digital tire gauge, a checkbook, a Mont Blanc pen and other personal
items stolen.
Melissa Tanji can be reached at
mtanji@mauinews.com.
