Crime duo faces long sentences

Two Kauai men face lengthy prison terms for a 2012 crime spree that included burglaries, thefts and car break-ins.

Aron Nagao changed his plea from not guilty to no contest Thursday for 15 felony charges in 12 cases, Kauai Prosecutor Justin Kollar said in a news release. Nagao was charged in connection with a string of car break-ins and burglaries in August and September from Hanamaulu to Kapaa.

Under a plea agreement, the government agreed to dismiss several charges, but Nagao could still be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 8 before Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano.

Kamron Cortez, charged as a co-defendant in several cases, will be sentenced on May 9. On Feb. 14, he pleaded guilty or no contest to 17 felonies.

Talk to focus on Gibson’s life

Historian Boyd Bond will visit the Lyman Museum in Hilo at 7 p.m. Monday to discuss the life and times of Walter Murray Gibson, an adventurer who arrived in Hawaii in 1861.

Gibson came to the islands as a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Using the church’s money to buy land, he put his own name on deeds and was quickly excommunicated, but in the process managed to acquire most of the island of Lanai, according to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

He eventually made his way through the legislature and government to become prime minister of the kingdom in 1886.