There is a silver lining if the court accepts the Deferred Acceptance of a Guilty Plea.  There is no such thing as a "clean: or "cleansed record".  Once something has been made part of any e-record, including Denby's well researched and compelling article, it lives forever.  This kid makes applications to college, jobs, or for a partner, and snap:  google his name and le voila.  Application meet opala. Also, the criminal record of the State Hawai`i will still show the charge, a record of proceedings, and the plea, and even a subsequent action to expunge the criminal record does not mean it actually will happen.  These criminals are encrusted in bird doo-doo for the rest of they miserable lives.