Lingle grants 5 pardons in 2007

Gov. Linda Lingle granted pardons for offenses dating back from 10 to 47 years. She has pardoned 71 people since taking office.

The recipients in 2007 were:

» Carl Wilbert Dunaway, who was convicted in 1997 of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. It was his only arrest. He was pardoned Jan. 17.

» Ronald Forsythe Larsen, who was convicted in 1963 for assault and battery on a police officer and profanity. He had no other arrests or convictions. On April 5 he received a pardon with express authorization that enables him to possess or use a firearm.

» Michael Kenji Nakamura, pardoned Feb. 28 for convictions including second-degree larceny in 1966, first-degree burglary and failure to render aid in 1962, and vehicle theft and trespassing in 1961. He had no arrests since being discharged from parole in 1969.

» Frederick Anthony Whitney, pardoned March 27 for convictions including drunken driving in 1985 and 1975, third-degree assault in 1975 and disorderly conduct 1975 and 1967. He had no arrests since 1985.

» Tami Marie Arndt-Beatty, pardoned March 14 for a 1998 misdemeanor contempt-of-court conviction, her only arrest.

The pardoning process begins with the convicted person, said Russell Pang, of the Governor's Office. An application is made to the Hawaii Paroling Authority, which investigates the court case and how the defendant behaved in prison or while on probation or parole. The applicant is also investigated by the attorney general's office, and the case is reviewed by the Department of Public Safety before going to the governor.

Pang said the applications vary from year to year. Lingle pardoned 21 people in 2006.

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano granted more than 80 pardons during his two terms.