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 for 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 multi-agency 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 for minors is a Class C felony which carries a maximum penalty of a five-year prison term.