Puna man sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexting with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl

A Big Island man is headed to prison after being sentenced earlier this week for sexting with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl, asking for sex and other sex acts, who turned out to be an undercover police officer as part of a law enforcement initiative aimed at stopping internet sex crimes against minors.

The Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney announced that 32-year-old Sonny E. Puerto of Puna, also known as “JUNYA,” was sentenced Monday in Hilo Circuit Court to 10 years in prison for first-degree electronic enticement of a child as a part of Operation Keiki Shield, which happened in May 2021.

The Class B felony also comes with no possibilty of probation and mandatory registration as a sex offender.

Prosecutors presented evidence during trial in July that Puerto exchanged text messages with an undercover police officer who Puerto thought was a 13-year-old girl, asking for sexual intercourse, fellatio and cunnilingus.

Puerto, who was previously released from custody on $30,000 bail and free during trial, was ultimately found guilty by a jury.

Prosecutors requested he be taken back into custody and detained without bail following the trial. The court denied the request; however, Puerto’s bail was increased to $500,000 and he was remanded into custody, where he remained until his sentencing Monday.

Operation Keiki Shield is a joint initiative between local, state and federal law enforcement focused on identifying and arresting offenders who commit internet sex crimes against minors and rescuing victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

“The people of Hawai‘i, and most especially our children, are safer when state law enforcement agencies partner with our county and federal counterparts,” then-Hawai‘i Attorney General Clare Connors in a May 11, 2021, media release about the Operation Keiki Shield arrests, including Puerto.

Operation Keiki Shield included members of numerous agencies, including the Hawai‘i Police Department, Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General, state Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Honolulu Police Department, Maui Police Department and Kaua‘i Police Department.

The Puerto case was led by Hawai‘i Police Department Detective Gavin Kagimoto and prosecuted by Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorneys Ha‘aheo Kaho‘ohalahala and Patrick Muñoz.

“Our office is committed to seeking justice for victims and protecting our community from those who prey upon our keiki,” said Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “This verdict was the result of the hard work, dedication and collaboration of [Hawai‘i Police Department], fellow state and federal law enforcement partners and our prosecutors. I would also like to thank the jury for their time and service.”