A 20-year-old man yesterday decided not to contest a felony charge that he failed to stop his car after hitting former Honolulu Police Chief Michael Nakamura, who was crossing a street in a wheelchair.

Anthony Grant Pearce II pleaded no contest to the felony, which carries a prison term of up to 10 years, but his lawyer Victor Bakke said he will ask for probation when his client is sentenced Nov. 23 by Circuit Judge Derrick Chan.

Pearce, who is free on $15,000 bail, did not contest that he struck Nakamura Sept. 29, 2004 while Nakamura was in a scooter-type wheelchair crossing Lanikuhana Avenue. Nakamura, who has a degenerative nerve condition, suffered two broken legs and other injuries. He underwent surgery and was eventually released.

"He's taking responsibility," Bakke said about his client's decision to not contest the charge.

Bakke said Pearce was driving a friend's car, stopped briefly after the collision, then "panicked" and left the scene. Pearce later returned, confessed and got arrested, then was released pending further investigation, Bakke said.

Bakke said his client was not drinking and was in "substantial" compliance with the law because he might never have been arrested had he not returned.

Pearce was indicted by the O'ahu grand jury on the charge last month.

Pearce also pleaded no contest to a charge of driving without a license, which carries a jail term of up to a year. Bakke said he will ask that the plea to the charge be deferred so that it would be dropped if Pearce abides by conditions similar to probation.

City Deputy Prosecutor Darrell Wong said it was too early to say what sentence he will recommend for Pearce, but said he will oppose any request to allow any charges to be dropped.

Nakamura, police chief from 1990 to 1997, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.