HILO — A 42-year-old University of Hawaii at Hilo student who had digital images of child pornography on his cellphone pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree promotion of child abuse and promoting prostitution.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered Benjamin Jamie Krome to appear for sentencing at 8 a.m. Sept. 13.
In return for Krome’s guilty pleas, prosecutors dropped two additional second-degree promotion of child abuse charges.
Nakamura asked Krome if he possessed “30 more images of any form of child pornography and the content of at least one image contains a minor who is younger than age 12?”
“Yes,” Krome replied.
The judge also inquired if Krome “paid, agreed to pay or offered to pay a fee to another person to engage in sexual conduct?”
“Yes, sir,” Krome answered.
Krome was arrested May 5 in what appears to be a sting operation at a Kalapana home.
Court documents state he showed images of child pornography to a complaining witness. Police say no children were physically present, and the promotion of child abuse charge involves only the digital images, which were downloaded online.
Police said the prostitution charge involved “an adult prostitute,” and a document states Krome agreed to pay $80 for sex with “a cooperating informant.”
Ramos, 31, was arrested April 26 in Kona and charged with prostitution. She was released after posting $250 bail and has an Aug. 24 court date in Kona.
Second-degree promotion of child abuse is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction, while promoting prostitution is a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail.
The plea deal calls for probation, with prosecutors free to argue for up to 18 months in jail with credit for time served, while Krome, who has no prior criminal convictions, is free to argue for no jail sentence, or if jail is imposed, to request that any time beyond what already has been served be taken under advisement.
Krome, who has been in jail in lieu of $16,000 bail since his arrest, also will be required to register as a sex offender.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
