I have been a citizen of Hawaii for over 40 years and I have diligently followed the case of Shaun Rodrigues.  I believe there has been a gross miscarriage of justice where this young man has been concerned.  My greatest disappointment was when he was found guilty.  HE IS INNOCENT.  I truly believe that had his case been presented to a jury of his peers that it would have turned out, as it rightfully should have been:  INNOCENT!

I implore you to correct this injustice and set him free or at the very least minimize his sentence to time served and release him.  Thank you for  your time and trust that you will do the right thing.

Sincerely, April McMoore

Severe InJustice

My name is David Arita.  I am a businessman. I have started a business from scratch in 1974 with only 5 employees and today after 32 years we have grown to over 110 employees. Having over 100 employees puts us in the top 5% of the companies in Hawaii. The reason we have grown and developed to where we are today is because of the people we have hired. Our employees have grown the business and I have made decisions on who to hire and have set the standards of operation for us to be successful.

I have known Shaun Rodrigues since 1998. I met him through his mother, Toni Kurihara, who worked for us for many years as a salesperson. From the time I met Shaun, I always liked him as a person. He was always well mannered, courteous and respectful to others. He had worked part time at a country club while going to high school. Upon graduating from high school, Shaun came to see me for a full time job to work in the warehouse. Because, of knowing him mother's excellent work ethics, we knew we would depend on Shaun to being a good worker and hired him on August 24, 1998. While working for us Shaun was studying electronics. On May 22, 2000, he left us to work for a burglar alarm company which was related to what he was studying.

In July 2000, when Shaun was arrested for this crime, I did not believe he was the person who did it. I asked all of the employees worked with him, if they thought he was capable to do this. They were as shocked as I was about Shaun being arrested. They all felt he did not have any meanness in him nor was he the type of person to point a gun to anyone or capable of harming anyone or even threatening a person to cut off their finger if they would not remove their ring. He was always a very well mannered and easy going person. He never had an attitude, lost his temper, or got upset about anything. He was very dependable, always on time, and courteous and respectful to his fellow employees and to our customers.

After Shaun got arrested, I knew it would be very difficult for him to be hired by anyone. Because of his prior work record with us, I offered him a job to come back and work with us again.

When Shaun came back to work with us, Shaun has not shown us any change in attitude or behavior which indicated to anyone that he could be guilty. Through all the delays in the trial and the anxieties he had to go through to going to trial,he always consistent with his work performance, dependable, friendly, reliable, and professional with everyone.

Even when Shaun was found guilty for this crime, he did not change his behavior or show any type of violence or  any type of retaliation for this decision. He has always maintained a well-mannered behavior.

Shaun left us on April 1, 2004 to work for another company to make more money so he could afford the expenses of a newborn child. He has been working with this company since he left.

It is already a servere injustice to Shaun and his family to have gone through this entire ordeal. They have depended on the fairness of the court system to prove his innocence and the court system has let them down. It would be a gross injustice if Shaun has to spend one more day in prison for a crime he did not commit. His behavior has shown that he is not a public threat and his past work experience shows that he is an honorable, dependable worker in our community.

It is a total waste of our tax paying dollars to keep him in jail. As Parole Officers, you have the authority to set him free. Now is the the time to do this a correct what is already a gross injustice to an innocent man.

Sincerely Yours,

David Arita

Lack of Physical Evidence

Please allow me this opportunity to voice my concerns and opinion on the Court's decision placed upon Mr. Shaun Rodrigues. I speak for my husband and I, along with so many others who have been following this case in support for Shaun, who is clearly, without a doubt, innocent and absolutely not guilty for this crime he has been accused and amazingly convicted for.

My husband and I have known Shaun since around the age of  5 years old, and watched him mature into such a fine young man with strong family values coming from a very close knit family. We remain shocked of the initial accusation as dreadfully appalled of the final verdict.

This is just not right. It really brings upon a very uneasy feeling-a false sense of security of our Justice System here in our state of Hawaii. An innocent person (who had such a bright future ahead) has been convicted for a crime he did not commit.

Lack of physical evidence. More coincidences of physical appearances is no grounds for conviction-somewhat termination of this young man's life. This seems to be the only validation of the prosecutors in this case.

I believe, as well as so many others the prosecutors in this case might have been wrong. So who can help Shaun at this point?

I can only hope that our justice system will pull through. Validate that an error has been made. Restore our faith in our Justice System.

Sincerely, Kathy Ann Oda Heu and Warran Kai Wing Heu

Letters from Co-Workers

We are fellow co-workers of Shaun Rodrigues. Our union represents the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, which Shaun is a proud member of.  It has been a pleasure to work with Shaun. He is always willing to assist in any way, very eager to learn, never complains, always willing to volunteer for extra hours if need be no matter what time it is, and is diligent in attending all his apprenticeship classes that will eventually qualify him to become a journeyman in our trade. Shaun is well liked by all members very soft spoken, very respectful, very humble and always willing to help  any of us if need be.

During the past several years that we have been working together, even through his personal ordeal, with the justice system, not once did he ever show any hostility or anger, never did it affect his ability to perform his job duties. Many of us has been aware of what has happen to Shaun, and we truly believe in his innocence. We believe Shaun was unjustly prosecuted, is a victim of mistaken identity, an individual who was unjustly put through a process of mistruths. It is just a travesty of injustice on how wrongly an innocent man got prosecuted and incarcerated, their was more than enough evidence to prove reasonable doubt.

We are asking that the Hawaii Paroling Authority please consider leniency, so Shaun may be able to return to work and continue support his wife and son, and pursue his goal of becoming a journeyman in our trade. He will continue his pursuit, to clear his name and seek the real truth.

Thank you for your time.  Sincerely,  Members of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.

Leroy Elizares-SR of Acutron Co., Bernard Alvarez, Henry M Rederos Jr, Scott Shimizu, Lawrence P Alejo, Rey Arquines, Joel Rivera, Ronald Justo, Chris Castillo, Eli Elizares, Jed Agustin, Chris, Reyes, Kapono Zukorich, Pedro Reyes,Curt Shirashi, Scott Morishita, Chris Bustamante, Nicky Rapoza

My name is Bernard Alvarez. Mu association with Shaun is through the work place. Having him work under me on several jobs as an apprentice has allowed me the privilege of getting to know him. I would represent Shaun as a character witness due to the merits he deserves as an outstanind worker, citizen, and family man. My qualifications include: being his journey person, union president for 20 years, former apprenticeship instructor for 6 years, I was also the former vice president of my children's PTSA board, and I have been coaching your and women soccer in excess of 25 years. Through all of these experiences I have encountered a countless number of associations and fellowships with young people.

What I perceived on my first exposure to Shaun is the most sincere, honest, caring, and responsible human being I have ever met. Even at his young age he shows a maturity that most young adults simply can't be taught. Aside from work I have invited him to my residence for recreational purposes which I hoped could help him through this stressful period.

His attitude toward life and family deeply moved me. I have invited Shaun to my Church on special occasions, which he was glad to come to even though he had his own place of worship. I also believe that any person who knows Shaun personally will agree if anyone is ever in need Shaun is always the first to oblige without hesitation.

It want until after meeting Shaun that I learned he was a neighbor to my daughter's God Parents. When I asked them about Shaun their feelings were the same as mine. They too believed that Shaun couldn't possibly be capable of what he is accused of. I personally feel that I can spot a person of insincerity when I meet one. I feel it would be very hard to find a more sincere and beautiful human being than Shaun. It would be a great travesty of justice if anything bad were to happen to him.

I pray that God helps Shaun and his family to get through this ordeal and that Shaun remains the same person I have come to call a true friend.

With Deepest Sincerity,  Bernard Alvarez

I write this letter in support of Shaun Rodrigues. I have had the opportunity to know Shaun and his family for many years.

Shaun always has shown, by his deeds rather than his words, that he is a decent human being, polite and a very responsible young man.

Im my observations of Shaun over the years he has always contributed to his family and the community, held responsible jobs, and did well in school.

It is my hope that you will consider Shaun's contribution to his family & the community as you make your decision about his future. It would be a tragic to see this young man's life destroyed.

Respectfully yours,  Leah Bernstein-President of The Mountain Apple Company.

To Whom It may Concern,

I have known SPC Rodrigues, Shaun, for over 4 years now, since he enlisted into the Hawaii Army National Guard back on February 1988. Being his Fire Support NCO. I've had the pleasure of working with him and see him grow to one of my outstanding soldiers in the squad as well as an individual.

SPC Rodrigues initially had a rough beginning in start of his military career, do to juggling  a full-time employment and handling a very heavy rigorous schedule at school. He perservered, and upon receiving his degree in his field of study, SPC Rodrigues demonstrated an even stronger inner strenght, value and most importantly, self-esteem and self worth. He maintained a consistent attendance record with the unit and developed into a great soldier in my squad. His "Loyalty, Duty, Selfless Service and Integrity" brings great credit to himself and gained my respect as well as his peers.

Part of my responsibilities as a NCO, is to develop upcoming soldiers and turn them into great leaders. SPC Rodrigues made my job easier with his newfound understanding of himself and continued effort to develop his mind a character. I believe that he has all of the leadership qualities and can be a great asset not only in the military but also to the civilian community.

Finally, I am aware of a statement by the prosecutor to the new media basically saying that Shaun lied about being assigned to the airport patrol detail. I can tell you what  know. Our group was asked for volunteers for airport security duty. Shaun volunteered but was told that he needed the Judge to amend her order forbidding him from carrying a firearm. My understanding is that Shaun did just that. After Shaun submitted the new order allowing him to carry firearms the JAG department decided not to allow Shaun to serve until the pending cases were cleared. It seems like the news used Major Charles Anthony to infer that Shaun was lying. He was NOT. Major Charles Anthony does not know me nor Shaun Rodrigues. Shaun is an honest and hard working man. I am pround to be Shaun's Staff Sergeant.

Please  note that in four years in the National Guard Shaun has never had a disciplinary demerit issued against him. It is difficult to believe that someone of such good character with everything going for him would wake up on a Saturday morning and drive to Manoa to become a home invasion robber. It just done not make sense.

It brings me great pleasure to have this opportunity to provide my comments on this fine individual. It you should require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me at 808 688-2572 or 808 540-0881

Sincerely,  SSG Baluyot, Norbert M.  ACo.,2/229 Inf. Bn. FSNCO  HHSB, 1st/487th Field Artillery Bn.

Very Concerned Citizen

I am troubled with the conviction and sentencing of Shaun Rodrigues. Watching the news and television media, it seems that this man was convicted on inconclusive and circumstantial evidence. Some examples were that fingerprints found did not belong to the accused; one victim making a positive identification without her contact lenses in place; other victim identifying Shaun in a lineup when her only view of the perpetrator was his feet during the robbery. There seem to be an assumption on the part of the victims that since Shaun installed a security system in their home the he disabled the system to rob the home.

His mom and brother stated that Shaun was at home during the robbery and were given a polygraph examination with both passed. Does that count for anything?

He has no prior arrest record. In fact he couldn't have joined the Army National Guard if he did. He was a model soldier and was ready and willing to serve this country in Iraq but was prevented from doing so because of this incident.

It say a lot about this individuals character when he was willing to enlist in the Army and willing to endure the rigorous required training and the hardship of being separated from his family had he been allowed to go to Iraq.

Shaun loves his mom and dad very much and was taught to respect others; especially his elders. It seems inconceivable that someone who has so much aloha for his family would intrude on the endanger another family especially another persons grandmother.

I hope that the court have been very thorough and positive that all have been done to warrant sending Shaun to prison. Just because it took five years to reach this conclusion does not mean that the court have exhausted all possibilities before finding this man guilty.

Considering Shaun's being brought up in a stable home, his love for his family his responsibility to them, his civic duty (being a member of the Army Guard), gainfully employed and a good standing member of his community, I believe that there should be a redress of his case to insure that another person is not falsely accused and imprisoned.

Sincerely,  Robert Ramos Sr.