Woman who turned life around after arrest gets probation | News, Sports, Jobs

WAILUKU — A Kihei woman who entered treatment after police seized drugs from a vehicle she was driving was placed on four years’ probation Wednesday.

Jessica Gabel, 35, whose life had “spiraled out of control,” completed drug treatment and “was able to turn it around” to negotiate the plea deal recommending probation, said Deputy Public Defender Ben Lowenthal.

“She’s doing very well,” he said. “She has good momentum behind her.”

Gabel had pleaded guilty to second-degree commercial promotion of marijuana and second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. Other drug charges were dismissed in exchange for her pleas.

She was arrested July 1, 2018, when police responded to a 911 call reporting that a vehicle was repeatedly swerving between the shoulder and oncoming lane of the highway. When officers stopped the vehicle, Gabel was alone and in the driver’s seat. Police said an officer smelled marijuana, asked Gabel to get out of the vehicle and saw a marijuana smoking pipe on the driver’s side floorboard.

Police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and reported recovering more than 1,700 grams of marijuana, more than 7 grams of methamphetamine, oxycodone, hydrocodone and other prescription pills.

“It’s clear that you were spiraling with your drug addiction and your contacts with the criminal justice system, including serving prison time,” 2nd Circuit Judge Kirstin Hamman said in sentencing Gabel. “You had numerous opportunities for treatment you did not take advantage of.”

According to court records, Gabel was resentenced to five years in prison for two counts of second-degree theft in 2011 after she was terminated from participation in the Maui Drug Court program of intensive treatment and supervision.

Hamman said that after reading Gabel’s letter to the court, “it’s clear that something has changed.”

“I could sense that you have a sense of hope that you didn’t have before,” Hamman said, in following the plea agreement to sentence Gabel. “I recognize the hard work you have done this time to remain clean and sober.”

The judge quoted a part of Gabel’s letter that said, “I used to do whatever I had to do to get high. Now I do whatever I have to do so I don’t.”

“You’ve got to do this for yourself, for your family, for your children and not just for the court system,” Hamman told Gabel. “If you don’t succeed, you have a lot to lose.”

Gabel was given credit for 73 days she previously spent in jail.

She also was given the chance to expunge the convictions as a nonviolent drug offender if she follows court requirements.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lf*******@ma******.com.