JEROME, Idaho — A man accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a Jerome High School Booster Club account has entered a plea agreement that could spare him a formal conviction — provided he pays back the money he allegedly took.
Wayne Kealaiki, 59, signed the agreement this month under terms in which prosecutors and the defense jointly agreed to recommend a withheld judgment, combined with four years of probation, if Kealaiki repays $16,000 by his sentencing date of July 27. A withheld judgment means the court does not enter a formal conviction order against the defendant.
Should Kealaiki fail to make full restitution by that date, both sides have agreed to instead recommend a suspended prison sentence of up to 120 days in jail, followed by probation.
Details of the Alleged Theft
Investigators identified 43 unauthorized transactions totaling approximately $2,200 made using the booster club’s debit card, along with a series of deposits Kealaiki allegedly transferred into his personal bank account. A person connected to the booster club told investigators that roughly $16,500 was unaccounted for overall.
Kealaiki served as the organization’s treasurer. The alleged theft is believed to have occurred over a three-year span, from 2021 through 2024. Among the unauthorized purchases identified in court records was a transaction in July 2022 in which Kealaiki reportedly used the club’s funds to buy party supplies and alcoholic beverages from a store for a Fourth of July barbecue.
The booster club supports Jerome High School athletics and activities, organizing fundraisers and providing logistical support for school programs.
It is worth noting that the plea deal is non-binding. The sentencing judge retains full authority to disregard the joint recommendation and impose a different sentence on the grand theft charge if the circumstances warrant it.
Additional Legal Trouble in Twin Falls County
Kealaiki’s legal problems extend beyond the Jerome embezzlement case. Court records indicate he was charged this month in Twin Falls County with misdemeanor battery after a woman reported that he had touched her without consent on two separate occasions in January — placing his hand on her hip and running it across her lower back.
The combination of charges puts Kealaiki under scrutiny in two separate Idaho jurisdictions simultaneously as he awaits his late-July sentencing in the Jerome case.
Cases involving public trust violations in Twin Falls County have drawn increased attention from local officials and law enforcement in recent months. Separately, Twin Falls County courts have also seen an uptick in other criminal matters, including a recent case in which a Twin Falls man was charged with possession of child pornography.
What Comes Next
Kealaiki’s sentencing is scheduled for July 27 in Jerome County. Whether he receives the withheld judgment and avoids a formal conviction will hinge entirely on whether the full $16,000 in restitution is paid to the booster club before that date. If the court accepts the joint recommendation and Kealaiki completes four years of probation without incident, no conviction would be entered on his record.
The sentencing judge, however, is not obligated to follow the agreement and could impose a stricter sentence. The battery charge in Twin Falls County is being handled as a separate matter and is expected to proceed on its own timeline through that court system.
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