Shaun Rodrigues was wrongfully convicted and sentenced for a crime that he did not commit. The guilty verdict was based solely on eyewitness identification from a computer-enhanced driver's license photo. Currently, there are no laws to protect an innocent person from mistaken identity in Hawaii. The only physical evidence recovered in the case was a fingerprint on a jewelry box. The fingerprint DID NOT belong to Shaun Rodrigues. However, to convince the public and themselves that they had captured the perpetrator, the prosecutors and HPD carefully crafted a scenario based on suspicion and coincidence in linking Shaun Rodrigues to the crime.

Despite having no prior criminal record, Shaun Rodrigues was convicted and sentenced to serve 20 years. Recently, the Hawaii State Parole Board determined that he must serve a minimum of 12 years in prison, despite an investigation and trial that was bungled from the start. An HPD detective had effectively prevented defense testimony on  the alibi by openly divulging evidence to the Rodrigues family. This prompted Judge Crandall to rule that family testimony on the alibi would be discounted and defense witnesses were "not credible witnesses in the case"

Judge Crandall's ruling and the contrived assumptions made by the prosecution and HPD only served to put an innocent man behind bars for at least 12 years. At the very minimum, an impartial panel or jury, one that would not be subject to political pressure, should again review the underlying facts of the case.  The guilty verdict would certainly be overturned, but more importantly, an innocent man will be exonerated for a crime that he did not commit. 

Sincerely,  Durwin Tanimoto

Wrongfully convicted

I have known Shaun Rodrigues and his family for over a decade and have the utmost respect for them as people who are contributing to the Hawaii community. I have watched the news about Shaun and his arrest and conviction for burglary, at first with obvious heartbreak and then with incredulity, knowning this young man could not have committed the crime for which he is convicted.

Shaun, as far as I know, has never been in any trouble inside or outside the home. He was always a good student, held down various jobs throughout his teenage and adult life and has served our country in the National Guard. I believe this is a case of mistaken identity and the system failed Shaun.

I humbly ask the parole board to consider the fact that Shaun has not criminal record and his life will be forever  altered by this experience. Please when determining his sentence consider his past as well as his future. He does not belong at Halawa and can be a good citizen of our community. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Respectfully,

Jon deMello

To Whom it May Concern,

It is with much concern, but horror that I express to you the character of the Kurihara Family. I have know Tod and Toni Kurihara for over 12 years and it is without any doubt that our friendship has been a rewarding and lasting one. We have grown together as our children have. Our morals consist of working for what you want, high academic achievements, participation in sports and most of all to respect others. They are people who appreciated what was being done for them. Whether big or small, their token of appreciation was always in a gift. Indeed, people with big hearts, always giving more than they should.

Surely as children grow up, we have challenges. As parents, we may not know all that is going on in our child's life but one thing I know is that if their child did wrong, they would make sure they would pay the consequences. They would do anything in their power to set their child straight. Fighting for Shaun is not simply because this is their son. It goes beyond that. It is fighting for a innocent person that so happens to be their son. In their hearts they believe in their son's innocence. You can't fight what is in your heart. Being that their friendship holds a special place in my heart, I can understand why they would put all their energy and lives into setting their son free.

Through the years, I have seen Shaun working hard to be where he is at today. From playing high school basketball, to supporting his brother in sports, graduating from college, to serving his country in the armed forces. He truly had the ambition of being a successful person. That was until the day he was approached with the devasting news leading to his arrest. But still through it all Shaun managed to maintain a job, continued serving in the National Guard, has grown in his faith with God and has proudly become a father and dependable husband.

I find it so hard to believe that the accused could maintain a life style like his. Like his parents have instilled in him, work hard for what you want. Shaun has never given up on moving on in his life. It is my hope that justice will be served to the right person and the wrongfully accused be set free. 

Sincerely,  Lila Harada

To whom it may concern,

The recent developments of the Shaun Rodrigues saga have prompted me to voice my opinion again. The recent ruling to sentence Shaun and have him incarsarated has left me dumbfounded.

After attending the sentencing, it struck me how both unfair and dangerous the Hawaii legal system can be. As a father of two early teens, this case has made me very concerned on the justice system. I understand that a terrible crime was committed and the perpetrator should be in prison. Unfortunately the legal system has put an innocent man in jail. With all the inconsistencies in the case, I could not believe that a person could be put away on a picture id when his own family state that they saw him at home and or was present with Shaun at the time.  If HPD or the prosecutors could have spent as much efforts that they made on convicting Shaun on trying to find the real culprit they would have seen all the inconsistencies and found the dangerous intruder. The thought that he could be still out there is alarming. The thought that he would be or was currently in prison only fuels the fire that the real Manoa robber has a history of such a vicious crime.

As I spend time with my family, it worries me that a judge could rule against my word that my children were with me at the time. I can't fathom the thought that they would be taken away from e in that fashion.  After realizing that just happened to the Kurihara's I lost my trust in the system.

I have know Shaun since he was 4 years old. I have know the Kuriharas for over 30 years. Being a good friend of the family. I know that Shaun would not and could do such a horrific crime. It does not make sense. Shaun is a gentle, good natured man,  was always that way. He always showed respect and manners to his elders, he would always address the, Mr., Mrs., Uncle, and Aunt. Watching him grow up was a pleasure and he seemed headed for a great future until the courts took that dream away from an innocent man.

As for the Kurihara's, I have been associated with Tod for over thirty years, we have spent many hours together professionally and socially. I understand that the court believes that family would lie to save their son. The thing about this is that the courts are calling the Kurihara's as liars which again is a great injustice to the family. The Kuriharas would not lie for their son if they felt or even knew he was guilty of the crime. As long as I've known them they have shown me integrity, respect, knowledge, and good ethics as well as trust.

Trust is what I lost on January 9, 2006 when the sheriffs took Shaun away to prison. I lost my trust in Hawaii's legal system. My older brother is a retired policeman and I always took the side of law enforcement whenever I had to make judgment but the realization of the injustice has been on my mind since.  I feel so badly for Shaun as he is prison an innocent man, helplessly hoping for something correct to happen to prove his innocence. Now when I see my children I wonder what could happen to them if they were falsely accused of a crime. I thought  the safest place for my children was at home with their parents: Judge Crandall has made me think otherwise. It is a sad day for the judicial system, the Kurihara's but mainly for Shaun.

Friend of Shaun Rodrigues,   Lloyd T. Tanji.