Probation ordered in Kula beating case

Prosecutor: There would have been issues at trial

WAILUKU — A man who severely injured a resident when he broke into a Kula home last year was placed on four years’ probation Thursday.

Coby Magalianes, 39, of Haiku was released from jail after being incarcerated for more than seven months.

He had pleaded no contest to first-degree assault.

The assault occurred April 2, 2018, when Magalianes and another man broke into the home because Magalianes thought his girlfriend was there with another man, said Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Teshima.

He said the other man was severely injured.

Police said the victim was asleep when he was beaten and was so seriously injured that he was flown to Oahu for further treatment.

“I’m very sorry,” Magalianes said in court. “I would like to take it back if I could, but I can’t. I just ask for forgiveness.”

Magalianes has no prior felony convictions, despite his drug history that dates to his childhood and includes abusing methamphetamine when he was 13, said Deputy Public Defender Heather Brown.

She said that later in life, he had problems when he began abusing OxyContin.

After spending months in

jail, Magalianes was ready for probation, Brown said.

A plea agreement between the defense and prosecution recommended probation for Magalianes.

The plea agreement was reached “based on problems the state would probably have had at trial with witnesses,” Teshima said.

“We hope the defendant stays true to his word in his letter and avoids these people and places, focuses on his family and son,” Teshima said.

Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill followed the plea agreement in sentencing Magalianes. He was ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and to complete an anger management treatment program.

Magalianes was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

Co-defendant Aaron Kalama, 23, of Kula is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.