Topic: News: James Moser sentenced to 8 years in prison for robberies, assaults

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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James Moser sentenced to 8 years in prison for robberies, assaults
Man arrested at Olympic trials gets eight-year sentence
By LILA FUJIMOTO

WAILUKU - Five months after he was arrested in Georgia while competing in Olympic weightlifting trials, a Kihei man was sentenced to an eight-year prison term for two home-invasion robberies in which the residents were beaten.

James Moser, 19, was sentenced Thursday as a young adult offender after he had pleaded no contest as charged to two counts each of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, as well as first-degree assault and first-degree theft. The robbery charge usually carries a penalty of 20 years in prison, while the other charges carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison.

In imposing the sentence, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza said both injured residents were "completely innocent victims who literally had their homes invaded and were brutally attacked and had property stolen from them."

"This could easily have ended up a lot worse than it did," Cardoza said.

"And that's saying something because it was a very bad situation. What you left in your wake was a path of destruction and injury that no human being should have to experience."

One robbery occurred at about 5 p.m. April 19 when two strangers walked in while an engineer was home alone and doing work at his apartment at the Kihei Alii Kai complex at 2376 S. Kihei Road.

The victim reported that a man matching Moser's description held a knife to his throat before he was beaten into unconsciousness and the apartment was ransacked, with the thieves making off with $1,000 cash and other property. A rubber mallet was used in the assault on the man.

The victim has no memory of how he briefly regained consciousness and managed to call his wife, who called 911. He suffered a concussion, broken nose and damage to a small artery from a cut on his left thumb.

He required 18 stitches to his throat, 10 stitches for lacerations to his upper and lower lip, 18 staples for multiple lacerations to his back left skull and a root canal for nerve injury from a front tooth that was damaged in the attack.

Four days later, at about 1:30 p.m. April 23, another man suffered facial fractures when he was attacked by two intruders who entered through an unlocked door of the unit at Kihei Regency Apartments at 2441 S. Kihei Road.

The attackers used their fists, empty beer bottles and a wooden nunchaku martial arts weapon belonging to the victim, who was awaiting entry into the Marine Corps, said Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes.

Luckily, she said the man recovered from his injuries and recently graduated from boot camp.

Property valued at more than $20,000 was stolen, including rings the victim had inherited from his mother and still wanted back, Mendes said.

She said both victims were upset about Moser's false claims that he had robbed drug dealers.

While another man was charged along with Moser in the second robbery, Mendes said the first victim wanted to know who Moser's accomplice was in that robbery.

Moser didn't speak in court Thursday. But his attorney William Sloper said Moser "is very sorry for what he has done."

When he is released from jail, Moser would have his parents and siblings to return to, as well as his athletic aspirations, Sloper said.

"It was unfortunate that this event occurred and it stopped him from being able to compete in the Olympic trials and having his chance to compete in the Olympics," Sloper said. "Mr. Moser is probably going to still have that chance."

In sentencing Moser, Cardoza agreed to follow a plea agreement between the prosecution and defense.

He asked Moser to consider how he would feel if he or one of his family members were treated the way he treated the victims.

"Would you ever want to go through this experience, this type of victimization?" Cardoza asked Moser.

"Think about what your reaction would be. Think about what these human beings had to go through at your hands."

Unless he is committed to changing his life, Cardoza said, Moser shouldn't be free in the community.

"It's good that you're competing in weightlifting," the judge told Moser. "But you'd better compete in life first."

Moser was ordered to pay $5,301 in extradition costs associated with returning him to Maui from Georgia. He is also subject to restitution costs in the two robberies.

Co-defendant Ikaika Kirifi, 23, of Makawao is facing a 10-year prison term after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary for the April 23 incident. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

[Dustin Oranchuk]

wow, he always seemed really aggressive on the platform, i guess it carried over...

[Shaun Le Conte]

Seems to be a topic people would rather not talk about - I can understand that.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

This is very disheartening news. I remember a couple years back James Moser donating some money to some anonymous weightlifter who reportedly was having troubles paying for food. I think James' father is a successful businessman. I don't find this story believable personally and chose to believe instead that James was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. I hope he gets out early for good behavior, working time off, etc and he doesn't spend nearly that long in prison. I hope we see him on the platform again. So much talent would be a shame to lose and James has as much talent as any American weightlifter we have.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

[Dave Chiu]

Yes, Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am thankful for judges like the one depicted by the quotes in the story -- respectful all around while most effectively concerned for the interest of society.

Perhaps the kid was misled by older associates ("friends" would be the wrong word), but if he had that much lack of self-discipline, his future prospects for fully developing his talent are dubious.

Maybe he will learn to value his life and opportunities, as I hope for all of us to realize.

Otherwise, I would favor a MINIMUM 2-yr ban from national competition after his release date in late '16.

He'd be eligible to lift in preparation for the '20 games, having missed 3 chances due to the crimes.

Still, a big part of me says he has dishonored the sport far beyond any multiple drug positive or other repeated cheating scandal, and a lifetime ban would not be out of order.

God bless him to find what the judge spoke of, and even more so GOD BLESS THE VICTIMS!!

[Bruce Darley]

If he really did this I think his sentance was light. Prison will be a humbling experience.

[brian p williams]

Let's keep things in proper perspective. James Moser's criminal behavior did not do anything to tarnish the reputation of the sport of olympic weightlifting. He committed a crime and was punished. End of story.

[Dave Chiu]

Getting arrested AT the Olympic Trials...

... does NOT dishonor O-lifting?!?!?

I guess DENIAL is not just the river in Egypt.

I may believe that the US news media aided and comforted our enemy

by making the big deal they did of the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuses,

but that doesn't change the fact that the idiots who committed those crimes

(and took pictures of themselves doing so)

dishonored the US military far beyond the ability of the UCMJ to gain more than a token of justice.