Kailua-Kona man convicted of sex offenses

A Kailua-Kona jury has convicted a 32-year-old Kailua-Kona man of first-degree electronic enticement of a child and attempted promotion of pornography to minors.

Micaiah Smith will be sentenced on June 24. He’s free on $15,000 bail.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Smith exchanged text messages and sent pictures of his genitals to an undercover police officer, whom Smith believed to be a 15-year-old girl.

He was arrested during a multiagency sting known as “Operation Keiki Shield,” which took place between March 31, 2023, and April 2, 2023.

First-degree electronic enticement of a child is a Class B felony with a penalty of 10 years imprisonment without the possibility of probation, and mandates registration as a sex offender. Attempted promotion of pornography to minors is a Class C felony which carries a maximum penalty 5 years in prison.