A former pharmacy student at the University of Hawaii at Hilo was sentenced Thursday to a year in jail and five years of probation for possessing child pornography.
Milton G. Ferreyro pleaded guilty to second-degree promotion of child abuse.
In return for his guilty plea, prosecutors dropped another count of second-degree promotion of child abuse and a single charge of third-degree promotion of child abuse.
According to the indictment, on Oct. 17, 2017, Ferreyro had multiple devices containing images of child pornography, including some depicting a child younger than 12.
The 33-year-old Ferreyro, who lives in Pasadena, Calif., will receive credit for time served toward his jail sentence. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and receive sex offender treatment. He also was ordered to stay away from schools and other places where unsupervised children congregate.
Ferreyro was almost silent during the 40-minute hearing and answered Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura’s questions in an all-but-inaudible voice, often just nodding or shaking his head in response to the judge’s queries. He declined to address the court when asked by the judge.
Ferreyro’s mother was present in the otherwise empty courtroom. His father, who recently suffered a heart attack and walked with the aid of a cane, sat outside in the hallway.
Ferreyro, who has no previous criminal record in Hawaii, will be allowed to visit his family in California for the holidays and was ordered to return Jan. 16 to begin his jail term.
Pamela Lundquist, Ferreyro’s Honolulu-based attorney, described the visit as “central to the plea agreement.”
After the sentencing, Deputy Prosecutor Evans Smith thanked investigators in the prosecutor’s office and Los Angeles police for their work on the case.
He said Ferreyro’s $120,000 bail remains in effect until incarceration, and there are numerous assurances Ferreyro will return to serve his sentence — including invalidation of his passport. He added that if Ferreyro does not return, he will be subject to a possible 10-year prison term, the maximum sentence for the offense.
“It is what it is. It’s a heinous crime,” Smith said.
“But in light of his family’s situation … it was about that. … Spending a little time with the family at a time when it looks like there may not be much time left.
“Bottom line is, he’ll be a registered sex offender, whether he’s in California or Kalamazoo.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.