Hola pleaded guilty to battery in 1998

Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Molonai Hola pleaded guilty five years ago to a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from a domestic-violence incident.

The episode occurred on April 4, 1998, at the Salt Lake residence he shared with his then-wife. The victim, Telesia Tonga, 28, told the Deseret Morning News Friday the incident was only an argument. She and her ex-husband are still on good terms, she said.

"It happened a long time ago," she said. "It was a huge misunderstanding. In fact, there was no physical violence — a lot of yelling and screaming."

The couple, who had their marriage annulled, were arguing — mostly in Tongan — when a neighbor apparently called police, Tonga said. Tonga cut her knee when she tripped on a shoe while running out the door, she said.

Police responded and took Hola into custody, Tonga said.

"I told them it wasn't a big deal and I told them that I didn't want to press charges," she said. "I told them that I tripped and my knee was bleeding and I started crying and immediately they separated us and took him away."

Hola, 38, pleaded guilty in abeyance May 7, 1998, in 3rd District Court.

A plea in abeyance means that the judge delays sentencing so that the defendant can meet certain requirements. If those requirements are met, usually over a period of time, the charge is dismissed. In Hola's case, he completed several terms that included 12 months good behavior, counseling and 25 hours of community service and the case was dismissed in March 1999.

Hola and Tonga divorced in June 1999 and had the divorce changed to an annulment in April 2000, court records show.

"We're actually good friends," said Tonga, who is currently visiting family in Utah but lives in Laie, Hawaii.

Hola has since married the daughter of Salt Lake 2002 Olympic bid leader Tom Welch.

His campaign manager Mike Clement said that he and Hola decided it would be best if Clement, as campaign manager, answered a reporter's questions about the incident.

"This type of case can be very complicated," Clement said. "This was an unfortunate incident, and rather than place blame, Mr. Hola stepped up and pled abeyance. He took responsibility."

Clement said Hola will continue running a strong campaign.

"This is why good people don't run for public office — they fear that one incident in their background might disqualify them and their opponents will bring it up and use it against them," Clement said. "This is not going to stop Mr. Hola from running for mayor, and we're still going to win this race.

"I think it's odd that this comes out the same day as a poll that shows support for Molonai Hola is growing."

Clement said Hola and Tonga were married for about a year.

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E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com; djensen@desnews.com