Katherine and Louis Kealoha want to be tried by a federal judge instead of a jury in the upcoming trial on bank fraud and identity theft charges in January.

The former city prosecutor and former police chief, who have already been convicted of conspiracy and obstruction charges in a previous trial, waived their right to a jury trial in a memo filed Tuesday in federal court. On Thursday, federal prosecutors consented to the request.

The Kealohas face a bundle of accusations, including stealing from the trust fund of children that Katherine Kealoha was a guardian for and defrauding banks.

The previous trial was by a 12-member jury that was selected from a pool of more than 400 people.

A hearing has been set for Wednesday on the request.

What it means to support Civil Beat.

Supporting Civil Beat means you’re investing in a newsroom that can devote months to investigate corruption. It means we can cover vulnerable, overlooked communities because those stories matter. And, it means we serve you. And only you.

Donate today and help sustain the kind of journalism Hawaiʻi cannot afford to lose.

About the Author