Whatever Happened...

An update on past news

Wednesday, December 4, 1996

HPD employee’s case
was dismissed

Q: What ever happened to Fred Witte, the Honolulu Police Department data analyst who stole the log-in sheet for then-Rep. Karen Horita's DUI case? Was he ever prosecuted?

Witte, now 51, appeared in court charged with removing a page from the police media log that listed Horita's early Sept. 19, 1992, arrest. Horita later was found guilty after she pleaded "no contest."

Acting Circuit Judge Richard Lum granted a request by Witte's attorney to hold off accepting Witte's guilty plea to tampering with government records to conceal the arrest of his friend Horita.

Lum's ruling permitted Witte to have the misdemeanor case dismissed if he met conditions similar to probation for one year and performed 50 hours of community service. Witte complied with Lum's Dec. 14, 1993, ruling. A year later Witte's case was dismissed.

Lum called Witte's actions foolish but said he did not obstruct justice because Horita was prosecuted and the media eventually would have learned of her case.

Noting Witte earlier received a 20-day suspension without pay, Lum said Witte had been punished enough.

He remains a Honolulu Police Department employee.