COURT LEVIES TOO LENIENT A SENTENCE FOR DRUGGIE

"Aiding drug prosecutions rewarded with probation," (The Maui News,
July 31):

Great deal with the prosecution, Matthew Otterson, especially on
escaping jail time on the largest drug bust ever in Maui history. Time
served? Thirty-three days for possession of 18.5 pounds of coke, six
ounces of crystal meth, one ounce of marijuana, $114,000 in cash -
street value $1.5 million.

Thirty-three days and the court says, in effect, "OK, you are being a
very good boy now and cooperating, so we will let you go." Not bad
when we factor in your obvious remorse and change of lifestyle.

I trust the authorities put you in a witness protection program. If
not, jail time would have been a more prudent option for you. From
here on out, you and yours will have to look over your shoulder with
every breathing moment for the rest of your probably quite short life.

And this is what the prosecutor and court consider a rehabilitated
former druggie success story? The drug enforcement squad at the Maui
Police Department is a joke, and the courts are there only to back
them up. Matthew, you screwed up badly here on your choices, from
beginning to end.

Leslie Jones

Kihei