Man released from jail to enter rehab on Oahu

WAILUKU — A Wailuku man was released from jail Monday to enter a long-term residential rehabilitation program on Oahu, after he was placed on four years’ probation for burglarizing homes last year.

William Heintz, 38, also was sentenced Thursday to an 18month jail term, with the possibility of being released early to enter the Habilitat program.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I believe I’ll be successful,” Heintz said in court.

In three criminal cases, he had pleaded no contest to three counts of first-degree burglary, third-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal property damage, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and unauthorized possession of confidential personal information.

Two burglaries occurred March 25, 2020, when he told neighbors he had been hired to work on one house and pretended he wanted to rent another on Naniloa Drive in Wailuku. The third burglary occurred the next day on Lunalilo Street in Wailuku.

Heintz graduated from the Maui Drug Court program of treatment and supervision and had done well before relapsing, said Deputy Public Defender Zach Raidmae.

He said that while someone is sober, “your addiction is outside in the parking lot doing pushups.”

“He truly understands that what he does when he relapses and commits crimes, harms people, harms himself, harms his family,” Raidmae said. “If he fails, he knows where he’s going. If he succeeds, I truly hope this will be the last round for him.”

Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill followed a plea agreement between the defense and prosecution in sentencing Heintz.

While he had some doubts, Cahill said Heintz had admitted responsibility for new charges in allowing him “one more shot.”

Heintz was ordered to pay $989 in restitution for a camera stolen from one house.