Retired auto dealer James Pflueger was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, Sept. 17 for recklessly causing the deaths of 7 people when his Ka Loko dam breached on March 14, 2006.
However, the sentencing will be delayed and is now scheduled for Oct. 15 at 8:30 a.m. in Kauai’s Fifth Circuit Court.
Pflueger’s attorneys successfully negotiated three delays in the sentencing over the last year, claiming Pflueger has various health issues that prevent him from traveling.
However, this most recent – and fourth – delay came at the request of Bruce and Cyndee Fehring, who lost daughter Aurora Solveig Fehring, son-in-law Alan Gareth Dingwall, and 2-year-old grandson, Rowan Grey Makana Fehring-Dingwall, in the breach.
Christina Michelle McNees, who was 7 months pregnant, and Daniel Jay Arroyo, her fiancé, who she was set to marry just hours later; Timothy Wendell Noonan, Jr., a friend who Aurora invited to stay with them after he lost his home; and Wayne Carl Rotstein, the Fehring’s caretaker and business partner, were also staying on the Fehrings’ property and were killed.
The Fehrings were unable to be at the Sept. 17 hearing.
Pflueger was first indicted on 7 counts of manslaughter and one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree in 2008. Pflueger was accused of covering the dam’s main safety feature, its spillway, when he was illegally grading around the dam.
Through a plea negotiation with the current attorney general David Loui, Pflueger’s company, Pacific 808 Properties LP, took responsibility for the deaths and paid a fine of $50,000 for each person’s death.
He has reportedly spent more than $46 million on his legal defense.
The founder of Pflueger Honda, renamed Pacific Honda, was set to plead no contest to a reckless endangerment in the first degree.
James Pflueger absolutely must be held accountable for his actions in compromising the safety of Kaloko dam prior to the heavy rainfall in the spring of 2006. He has being using his significant wealth and numerous legal delays to prolong realizing justice for the victims of the breaching of Kaloko. I personally have been appalled by the Hawaii legal system and lawyers representing Pflueger to delay justice for the victims. Eight years have passed and Pflueger's wealth has been used successfully to hinder and postpone justice. I am sad to predict that Plueger's wealth and 48 million dollar legal team will continue prevent him from spending any time in prison and provide appropriate justice and a pittance of financial damages for the victims.
I am truly disgusting with Hawaii's court system for allowing Jimmy Pflueger to live life to the fullest almost 10 years after he contributed to the deaths of 7 people. No consequences. All the pain Jimmy Plfueger has caused to others ( I know of many people he has hurt) he will get that pain back…… His punishment will come. No lawyers and no courts just JP and GOD.
He should've fessed up at the beginning. He'd still be out the $48 million after civil suits and fines, but everyone would have had the chance to move on EIGHT YEARS AGO. This dude must have done some super shady stuff if he's fighting this hard.
Justice delayed is justice denied. What is wrong with with this judge?
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