WAILUKU — After violating a court order by calling and sending “nasty” text messages to his former girlfriend 144 times, a man was ordered to write 144 compliments about her.

“For every nasty thing you said about her, you’re going to say a nice thing,” 2nd Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo told Daren Young. “No repeating words.”

Young, 30, was sentenced Friday after he had pleaded no contest to 16 counts of violating an order for protection. He was given credit for about five months he had spent in jail and was placed on two years’ probation.

In a court order issued Feb. 22, Young was ordered not to contact his ex-girlfriend, including by telephone. She had sought the order for protection.

On May 22, between 8:39 and 11:10 p.m., he violated the order by texting, calling and attempting to call her 144 times, according to police.

Shortly afterward, officers arrested Young at his residence in Kahului.

After spending 157 days in jail, Young had gotten the message, said Deputy Public Defender Zach Raidmae.

“One hundred and fifty-seven days is a long time to think about what tasteless things were said and the importance of abiding by protective orders,” Raidmae said.

“The reality of this case is no texts, no problem,” Raidmae said. “He’s experienced the sting of not abiding by this.”

In court, Young said he was sorry.

“I’m not going to do it again,” he said. “I’m ready to move forward with my life, help my mom, who had a stroke.”

Young said that he had “let go already” after he and the woman had broken up almost nine months ago.

Loo noted that Young sent the text messages within a three-hour period.

“I don’t know whether I should cut off your fingers or take away your phone to get you to stop texting,” she said. “You probably shouldn’t get a phone, period. I hope she changed her number.”

Deputy Prosecutor Carson Tani said he didn’t know whether the woman had changed her phone number.

“I know what number she has now and I’m not going to say it,” Tani said.

As part of his sentence, Young was ordered to pay $2,400 in fines and perform 200 hours of community service. He was ordered to write the 144 complimentary things about his ex-girlfriend within 144 days.

“It’s so childish to think a grown man can be so thumb-happy,” Loo told Young. “I hope you don’t have a phone anymore and, if you do, I hope you don’t have her number anymore.”

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.