Possible plea deal in child porn case

A 42-year-old University of Hawaii at Hilo student accused of having digital images of child pornography on his cellphone pleaded not guilty Monday to three counts of second-degree promotion of child abuse and a single promotion of prostitution charge.

Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura scheduled a possible change-of-plea hearing at 8:30 a.m. June 26 for Benjamin Jamie Krome of Mountain View.

“The government and defense have already reached a tentative agreement with regard to disposition of this matter,” Stanton Oshiro, Krome’s court-appointed attorney, told the judge.

Krome allegedly admitted to police he downloaded images of nude minors engaged in sexual conduct from various websites. According to court documents, those images show nude children who appear to be between the ages of 4 and 10 performing sexual acts.

Documents also state he showed images of child pornography to a complaining witness identified as Cynthia Ramos.

Krome was arrested May 6 at a Kalapana home. Police say no children were physically present, and the promotion of child abuse charges involve only the digital images.

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 given a Thursday court date in Kona.

Krome remains in custody on $16,000 bail. Nakamura told Krome if he is released from jail, he is to not contact, threaten or harm Ramos.

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.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.