Pepsi objected in a tweet Friday to a Maui County judge’s suggestion to a car theft defendant to refrain from drinking the soft drink.

The tweet begins “We Object!”

“Your Honor. In a recent hearing, you suggested that someone not drink Pepsi for four years. Let’s be clear:

“Stealing cars is not OK. However, Pepsi is more than OK.”

Second Circuit Judge Rhonda Loo made the suggestion while sentencing Christopher Montilliano Jr., 21, on March 22. He had pleaded no contest to unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and driving without a license.

Montilliano was arrested June 12 for stealing a 1990 Honda Accord from Uptown Texaco in Wailuku. He told police he was going to the store to buy soda when he was caught driving a stolen car.

Noting that Montilliano had “told various fibs, various lies,” Loo said that the defendant told police that his cousin had allowed him to drive the car and that he was going to Foodland Kehalani to buy soda — even though the Texaco from where the car was stolen sold soft drinks.

“You didn’t want to admit that you actually stole the vehicle,” Loo told Montilliano. “Is it because the soda made you do it?”

Later, the judge asked Montilliano what kind of soda he was addicted to and he said Pepsi.

“It’s the Pepsi deprivation syndrome,” she said in suggesting he refrain from drinking the soft drink.

Montilliano was sentenced to four years’ probation and no additional jail time. He spent seven days in jail after his arrest, then another three months when he didn’t show up for his original sentencing date in November.

He also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and to pay a $100 fine.

“We’d like a second chance to prove we’re delicious beyond a reasonable doubt,” the tweet from @pepsi said. “We’re prepared to enter some Pepsi into evidence. We think you’ll find our case quite refreshing.

“Legally yours, Pepsi.”