A 22-year-old Waianae man, who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in a separate burglary case, was charged with posing as a military police officer in thefts at Pearlridge Center.

Shandon Paulino was charged with second-degree theft, second-degree impersonation of a law enforcement officer and seven counts of unlawful imprisonment. His bail was set at $50,000.

Police said Paulino and 19-year-old Russell Vierra stopped shoppers in the parking lot in July and August while dressed in a military uniform or displaying a military identification card. They told the victims that they were suspects in a crime, then led them to a secluded area and took their belongings, police said.

Vierra was being held yesterday on $10,000 bail for third-degree theft and four counts of unlawful imprisonment.

Paulino, who has been in trouble with the law since he was a juvenile, pleaded guilty to an unrelated burglary in April and was awaiting sentencing.

In that case, a witness saw Paulino enter a townhouse on Helelua Street in Waianae in December. Police found Paulino in the passenger seat of a car with a 5-gallon bucket of coins and dollar bills between his legs, court documents said.

Paulino was to be sentenced June 28, but that day his lawyer argued to delay sentencing because Paulino was completing a drug treatment program, court records said. A judge delayed his sentencing to Aug. 30.

In 2005 Paulino allegedly stabbed a taxi driver in the chest after he was dropped off with three other males in Ewa Beach.

Also that year, Paulino aided in the robbery of an Ewa Beach Taco Bell restaurant. He was accused of leaving the back door ajar for an armed robber, who came in wearing a Halloween mask and took $1,633.

Paulino, who was 17 at the time of the crimes, fled to Alaska but later surrendered to authorities. Family Court waived its jurisdiction, allowing Paulino to be charged as an adult.

He was charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree robbery, but found guilty of first-degree assault and second-degree robbery in 2008. He was sentenced to one year in prison and five years’ probation.