Honolulu, HAWAII — More than four months after being arrested and charged in connection with the ongoing Kealoha corruption probe, Max Sword hasn’t stepped down from the Board of Water Supply’s board of directors ― and has no plans to do so.

Sword was appointed to the panel by former Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

The retired Outrigger Hotels lobbyist was indicted by a grand jury in January and is accused of conspiring with two other former city executives to pay off disgraced ex-Police Chief Louis Kealoha.

Court records said the three organized the plan to skirt the Honolulu City Council, which would have likely denied the payout.

Sandy Ma, of Common Cause Hawaii, said Sword should step down from the BWS board.

Retired federal public defender Alexander Silvert said Sword doesn’t need to be removed.

Sword’s attorney, William McCorriston, said in a statement that his client entered a not guilty plea for good reason.

“The transaction involving Chief Kealoha’s severance package was deemed to be proper by the city,” said McCorriston, adding his client will continue to serve the community on the board.

Sword and his co-defendants have requested a trial by judge not jury.

A hearing on that motion is set for May.

Read details at Hawaii News Now