Former RightStar CEO arrested in Oregon
The former CEO of RightStar Hawaii Management, the one-time operator of cemeteries and funeral homes on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island, was arrested in Oregon and will be returned to Hawaii.
Attorney General Mark Bennett announced Wednesday that John Dooley had been arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Oregon on April 27 on a grand jury bench warrant that was issued in Honolulu on Dec. 12, 2006. The bench warrant was based on an indictment that accuses Dooley of theft in the first degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine, Bennett said.
Dooley allegedly stole money from Dec. 29, 2003 through Jan. 6, 2004 that belonged to a number of customers of his RightStar Corp., which was formed by Dooley in 2001 and which took over several Hawaii cemeteries and funeral homes in bankruptcy cash til payday loan.
They included the Valley of the Temples on Oahu, Homelani and Kona Memorial Parks on the Big Island and Maui Memorial Park.
A civil and criminal investigation was launched in 2004, when financial troubles at those facilities were revealed.
Dooley was fired from RightStar in February 2005.
Bennett said the memorial parks are now under the supervision of the state.