Big Island man facing array of child sex abuse charges after months-long investigation

A man from Mountain View is facing a myriad of offenses, including incest and being found in possession of and electronically disseminating various forms of child pornography.

Joseph Tibbs, 44, was taken into custody Thursday morning after a months-long collaborative investigation between the law enforcement Internet Crimes Against Children task force, the Hawai‘i Police Department, the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and Homeland Security Investigations.

Tibbs was charged with the following offenses:

• Seven counts of first-degree sexual assault
• Two counts of first-degree promoting child abuse
• Two counts of second-degree promoting child abuse
• Two counts of incest
• Two counts of use of a computer in the commission of a separate crime

His bail was set at just over $4.8 million.

Tibbs made an initial appearance in the District Court in Puna, where the Hawai‘i County prosecuting attorney requested the 44-year-old be held without bail, believing there is a “serious risk he will flee and that he poses a serious risk of harm to the victims in this case.”

During the hearing, the judge maintained bail and was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

Prosecutors also filed a motion requesting that court documents be sealed to protect the privacy interests of the involved minors and to preserve the integrity of the investigation, as it remains ongoing.

Law enforcement was first alerted to Tibbs through tips in March, identifying him as being in possession of, and electronically disseminating various forms of child pornography. As the investigation progressed, Hawai‘i Island police indicated that investigators identified some of the female victims in photos and videos. There also appear to be additional victims who police have yet to identify.

Following Tibbs’ arrest, police executed a search warrant on his residence where numerous electric devices and various sexual-related evidence was recovered, according to the police.

The Maui Police Department also assisted in recovering and analyzing various electronic devices.

During the course of the investigation, police determined that Tibbs had been engaging in sexual conduct with minors for one year.

This investigation continues as investigators continue to conduct forensic examinations of evidence and attempt to identify additional potential victims.

Police ask anyone who may have information related to Tibbs and this investigation to contact Detective Chandler Nacino of the Vice Section in Kona at 808-326-4646, extension 312, or via email at Chandler.Nacino@hawaiicounty.gov.

Anyone with knowledge of or suspecting someone of committing crimes against children, police urge to report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) 24-hour hotline at 1-800-843-5678, Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300, or call 911.