Man ordered to pay restitution to place he ripped off

WAILUKU — A Kihei man was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution for theft from a restaurant he was running three years ago.

Andrew Krabill, 38, was placed on one year’s probation when he was sentenced Tuesday after he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of third-degree theft. The theft occurred from May 31 to July 1, 2016, according to the complaint against Krabill.

The restaurant owners, who have a successful fast food company in Arizona, brought Krabill to Maui to run a branch they opened in Kihei, said Deputy Prosecutor Johann Smith.

“While he was running the restaurant, he stole on numerous occasions a lot more than the $5,000,” Smith said.

He said bank deposits that Krabill had signed for didn’t make it to the bank.

The plea agreement, which called for Krabill to pay back $5,000, was reached with support from the victims, in part because of evidentiary issues in the case, Smith said.

“The thing that the state and the victims are getting out of this, besides the $5,000, is the peace of mind knowing that Mr. Krabill is being held responsible for this, and that down the road, he will have to notify employers that he has this theft conviction,” Smith said.

Deputy Public Defender Heather Brown said Krabill wasn’t the only one who had access to the money. In one of the deposits at issue, Krabill had left the money in the safe for the evening rather than carry it to his car “that was not in the best area,” Brown said.

Before being resolved, the case had been set for a trial, which would have been lengthy, Brown said.

She said Krabill is working and had $200 to pay Tuesday toward restitution.

Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill followed the plea agreement in sentencing Krabill.