Hilo man charged with child sex solicitation following sting operation

A Hilo man is facing charges of child sex solicitation after his arrest during a multi-agency undercover operation over the weekend.

Between Feb. 23 and Feb. 25, the Hawai‘i Police Department conducted Operation Keiki Shield, a statewide coordinated effort designed to identify and arrest individuals using the internet to facilitate sexual crimes against children.

The sting operation took place in Hilo with investigators posing as underage teens on the internet. Authorities ultimately connected with Elijah Joseph Stutes, 42, who was charged with first-degree electronic enticement of a child and resisting arrest.

His bail was set at $53,000. Stutes was charged on an information charging complaint, and further proceedings will be heard in Circuit Court.

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.

Agencies involved in the weekend’s operation included the County Prosecutor’s Office and the Hawai’i Internet Crimes Against Children 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.