A 32-year-old Kailua-Kona man was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for child enticement charges.
Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim ordered Micaiah Smith, who had remained free on $15,000 bail for the duration of his court proceedings, be taken into custody immediately to start serving his sentence.
A jury found Smith guilty on April 23 of first-degree electronic enticement of a child and attempted promotion of pornography for minors.
Smith was arrested during an Operation Keiki Shield sting which took place last year in Kona between March 31 and April 2.
Prosecutors presented evidence at trial 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.
First-degree electronic enticement of a child is a Class B felony offense which carries a maximum 10-year-prison sentence without the possibility of probation and mandates registration as a sex offender. Attempted promotion of pornography for minors is a Class C felony offense which carries a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term.
Smith will serve his sentence for both charges concurrently.
“Predatory behavior comes in many forms, and people should recognize online conduct as a very real threat,” said Deputy Prosecutor Annaliese Wolf, who prosecuted the case with Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Woodward. “Teenagers are especially vulnerable online, as they seek social connections and interactions.
“Operation Keiki Shield serves as a reminder that people must stay vigilant online and protect and educate their young loved ones about predatory online conduct.”
Operation Keiki Shield is a state/federal/local collaborative initiative focused on identifying and arresting offenders who commit internet-facilitated sex crimes against minors and rescuing victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
In other Operation Keiki Shield cases:
• Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota on April 23 dismissed charges of first-degree electronic enticement of a child and resisting arrest in the case of Elijah Joseph Stutes, 42, of Mountain View, for lack of probable cause. During a February sting, Stutes texted with a Homeland Security Agent posing as a 14-year-old girl named “Abby.” Stutes reportedly texted that he was at the Panda Express restaurant in downtown Hilo and asked “Abby” to meet him there. The reply was that “Abby” was waiting at a Hilo Bayfront canoe hale and requesting Stutes bring food. Stutes, who was on foot, was intercepted and arrested by two Hawaii Police Department officers while allegedly en route. Kubota said the enticement charge was missing a crucial element, that of the suspect showing up at the agreed-upon place. The dismissal was without prejudice, which means prosecutors can refile charges.
• A charge of first-degree electronic enticement of a child against 43-year-old Joseph Michael Marshall of Kailua-Kona was dismissed March 25 as part of a plea deal in which Marshall pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree custodial interference. Both charges, seemingly otherwise unrelated, stem from incidents on April 1, 2023. Kona Circuit Judge Wendy DeWeese sentenced Marshall on March 25 to four years of probation but allowed a deferred acceptance of Marshall’s plea, which means if he stays out of trouble with the law for four years, the conviction will be expunged from his record.
• In a deal with prosecutors, 37-year-old Vincent Vitacion Antonio of Kailua-Kona on June 5 pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of second-degree electronic enticement of a child after showing up to the agreed-upon place on April 1, 2023, to meet a police detective posing as a 13-year-old boy. Antonio was sentenced June 18 by Kim to five years of probation with a year of jail time for the Class C felony charge.
• In a deal with prosecutors, RyenCQ Richard Knapp, 41, of Kailua-Kona pleaded no contest on July 13, 2023, to a lesser charge of second-degree electronic enticement of a child and was sentenced by DeWeese to five years of probation with a year in jail. Knapp showed up to the agreed-upon place on April 2, 2023, to meet a police detective posing as a 15-year-old girl. As part of the plea deal, a misdemeanor charge of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child was dropped. Knapp was identified as a parent or guardian charged with the care and custody of the minor. It’s not specified in the indictment whether Knapp brought the minor to the alleged encounter or left the juvenile unsupervised.
• Sonny Eugenio Puerto Jr., 31, of Kurtistown pleaded not guilty to first-degree electronic enticement of a child after being arrested May 6, 2021, in Hilo. He has a trial date of July 8 before Kubota. Puerto is free on $30,000 bail.
• Nolan Okalani Tallett, 48, of Honolulu pleaded not guilty to first-degree electronic enticement of a child after being arrested May 6, 2021, in Hilo. According to court records, plea negotiations are taking place, and a hearing is scheduled for July 22 before Kubota. Tallett is free on $50,000 bail.
• Kanani Ikaika Perreira-Yurong, 34, of Hilo pleaded not guilty to first-degree electronic enticement of a child after being arrested May 9, 2021, in Hilo. No trial date has been set, but a hearing for further proceedings is scheduled for July 18 before Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto. Perreira-Yurong is free on $50,000 bail.
• Marshall K. Baji, 34, of Naalehu pleaded not guilty to first-degree electronic enticement of a child, attempted promotion of pornography to a minor, first-degree attempted promotion of a minor-produced sexual image, methamphetamine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, possessing a loaded firearm on a public roadway, illegally carrying ammunition, and firearms permit and registration offenses after being arrested on May 6, 2021. No trial date has been set, but he has a hearing for further proceedings July 25 before Kubota. Baji remains in custody in Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $143,000 bail.
• Joseph Michael Powell, 39, of Hilo pleaded not guilty to first-degree electronic enticement of a child, attempted promotion of pornography to minors, and 11 counts of attempted promotion of minor-produced nude images after being arrested May 7, 2021. According to court records, a plea agreement has been reached in Powell’s case, and a change of plea hearing has been set for Aug. 14 before Kubota. Powell remains in custody at HCCC in lieu of $82,000 bail.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.