Federal Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield on Friday rejected a bid for early release from detention by one of alleged crime boss Michael J. Miske, Jr’s co-defendants, Norman Akau III.

Akau is charged with participating in Miske’s alleged racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs, carrying a firearm in a drug trafficking crime, the armed robbery of a drug dealer, and carrying a firearm in a crime of violence. Two charges carry a potential maximum sentence of life in prison, while others have mandatory minimum sentences.

However, in a motion for release on bond filed on May 24, Akau’s attorney, Ronald Richards of Beverly Hills, disclosed Akau now has “a fully executed plea agreement which resolves his case for a single count” of racketeering conspiracy.

Akau turned him self in last July after his indictment along with Miske and others was made public. At the time, Akau had been employed as a rigging grip for more than a decade, setting up and dismantling cameras, equipment, and scenery on movie and television productions in Hawaii. He also was a member of the executive board of IATSE Local 665, the Hawaii local of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union representing stagehands in Hawaii productions.

In addition, Akau held a valid car salesman’s license and was employed by Big Dog, Inc. His father, Norman Akau, Jr., is listed as registered agent for the company, which is registered at the Kaneohe home the two have shared for years.

Richards’ motion said the plea, and the government’s willingness to drop four of the five charges, including all that carried mandatory minimum sentences or potential life sentences, constitute “changed circumstances.” With the more serious charges now off the table, Richards motion said the balance should now favor release, subject to rigorous conditions to assure the safety of the community.

Richards repeated his arguments during a 40-minute telephone hearing on Friday morning. Richards told the judge Akau has had “a complete metamorphosis….This is a different person than was before you a year ago.”

He said Akau has now chosen “a pathway of truthfulness, cooperation, and compliance with all things that have been asked of him.”

“He came in like a champ and told the government everything that was truthful, and told them things they didn’t know,” Richards told Mansfield, including the bad things he had done.

Akau made the disclosures although they now put him at risk, Richards said.

“Mr. Akau could be in serious jeopardy if he is remaining in custody” once the content of the plea agreement is made public, Richards said.

But after a 40-minute hearing held by telephone, Mansfield’s rejected the motion for bond and instead affirmed the previous order that Akau remain in custody without bail “for the safety of the community.”

Mansfield began by dismissing Richards’ premise that most of the charges against Akau have now been settled, pointing out that although the memorandum of plea agreement has been signed, it remains undated and has not been filed with or approved by the court.

“Technically, all charges are pending,” he said, including those that prosecutors have agreed to drop as part of the plea agreement.

Further, Mansfield said, the unfiled plea agreement “admits to violent dangerous recent conduct, within the past five years.”

“Mr. Akau now admits that in 2016 and 2017, he accepted an offer from Mr. Miske to kill Victim 12 for $50,0000,” Mansfield said. He noted the plan had not been carried out, but had only been abandoned at the last moment. “Nevertheless, Mr. Akau admits he did accept the offer.”

Mansfield said Akau, in his plea agreement, also admitted impersonating a police officer, and carrying a gun equipped with a silencer, while participating in the robbery of another drug dealer.

“This is the evidence you asked me to consider…and in this plea agreement, he admits to these two very dangerous acts,” Mansfield told Richards.

“Originally those were simply allegations,” Mansfield said. “Now I have admissions.”

It appears from Mansfield’s comments that the motion for release on bond was premature, but the legal technicalities may be different when the plea agreement is filed in court to be reviewed and accepted by Judge Derrick Watson, who is presiding over the entire case. No explanation was offered for why the plea agreement has not yet been presented for approval.