Full Notification

Hawai‘i police Department
Area I Juvenile Aid Section
Lieutenant Robert P. Pauole
Phone: (808) 961-2254
Report No.: 24-018504
 
Media Release
 
Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged a 42-year-old Hilo man for child sex solicitation as part of a multi-agency undercover operation designed to identify and arrest individuals using the internet to facilitate sexual crimes against children.
 
Between Friday, February 23, and Sunday, February 25, 2024, the Hawai‘i Police Department partnered with the County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hawai’i Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which consists of personnel and law enforcement officers from the Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department, Department of Attorney General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Secret Services to conduct Operation Keiki Shield.
 
Operation Keiki Shield is a statewide, coordinated effort involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies tasked with the investigation and prosecution of internet-facilitated crimes against children. The sting operation took place in Hilo via the internet with investigators posing as underage teens.
 
During the sting operation, Elijah Joseph Stutes, of Hilo was charged with first-degree electronic enticement of a child and resisting arrest. His bail was set at $53,000. 
 
In lieu of a preliminary hearing, Stutes was charged on an information charging complaint, and further proceedings will be heard in Circuit Court.