HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR062117Sentencingsetin2015vehicularmanslaughtercase
C OU NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES JR.
Managing Director
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
News Release
For Immediate Release: June 21, 2017
JUSTIN KOLLAR, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Tel (808) 241-1888
Fax (808) 241-1758
Sentencing set in 2015 vehicular manslaughter case
LĪHU‘E – Evan Craft, 36, originally of California, appeared before the Honorable Circuit
Court Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe Wednesday morning with his attorney, and entered a no
contest plea to a manslaughter charge arising out of the 2015 death of Kaua‘i man Michael B.
Helppie Jr.
On June 1, 2015, witnesses saw Craft and Helppie appearing to argue outside of a local
tavern in the early morning hours. They proceeded to the jetty area by Kalapakī Harbor, and at
some point thereafter Craft ran over Helppie with his car, killing him.
Craft was arrested by the Kaua‘i Police Department for Manslaughter and Operating a
Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant, and later indicted by a 5th Circuit Court grand jury
on charges of Second Degree Murder and OVUII.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar stated, “Our thoughts remain with the ‘ohana of
Michael Helppie Jr.”
Craft will be sentenced on September 13, 2017 and faces up to 20 years in prison.
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