LIHUE — An Anahola man who prosecutors said requested nude pictures of a 15-year-old girl he had been asked to photograph was sentenced Thursday to nine months in jail. A high school friend asked Samuel Kamae IV, 39, to take
LIHUE — An Anahola man who prosecutors said requested nude pictures of a 15-year-old girl he had been asked to photograph was sentenced Thursday to nine months in jail.
A high school friend asked Samuel Kamae IV, 39, to take pictures of her daughter in 2014, said deputy prosecuting attorney Keola Siu.
Kamae then friended the minor on Facebook and began sending her direct messages, Siu said. That’s when Kamae began requesting nude photos from the girl, Siu told the court.
“Mr. Kamae was very persistent in contacting her. He also asked her in those messages to put lingerie on and take a video of her taking it off,” Siu said. “She did not do it. But she did send images of herself in a bikini and then as requested by Mr. Kamae images of herself with that bikini, bottom and top off.”
Fifth Circuit Court Judge Randal Valenciano said cases like these highlight the dangers of social media and how social media and current technology can be used to facilitate the commission of certain crimes.
He said Kamae used his company to prey on unsuspecting females expecting to be introduced into the modeling industry.
“He preyed on a younger female, made promises to her that she believed would assist her in the modeling world and he obtained nude photos of her,” Valenciano said.
Before he was sentenced, Kamae, by way of his attorney, disputed facts in the police report. He then apologized to the court.
Siu said he was disappointed that Kamae was not taking more ownership of his role in the case.
Valenciano told Kamae that he would have “to fashion a sentence that impresses upon you how serious this matter is.”
He said he would not follow the plea agreement set out by the parties.
Kamae is charged with criminal solicitation — a class B felony, promoting child abuse in the third degree — a class C felony, and two counts of promoting minor produced sexual images in the first degree.
In February, Kamae pleaded no contest to promoting child abuse in the third degree and one count of promoting minor produced sexual images in the first degree after accepting a plea deal with the state, which dropped the remaining charges.
In the plea agreement, the state recommended 120 days in jail with credit for time served. Kamae’s attorney, Al Castillo Jr., said Kamae had already spent 66 days in jail.
In his argument to the court, Siu said the state made the deal to protect the minor’s privacy.
“Essentially, we did make this deal in order to avoid trial in this case,” Siu said. “So the images would not be made public to the jury. The minor is very ashamed of these images and she regrets doing this.”
He said the state wanted to follow the agreement.
“In evaluating these types of cases for settlement, one of the main factors we consider is protecting child victims from the trauma of a courtroom setting and balancing that against the need for appropriate punishment for the defendant,” Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said,
But Valenciano did not think 120 days was enough.
He sentenced Kamae to nine months in jail and five years of HOPE probation because he said he considered Kamae a high-risk individual who would have to be continuously monitored.
As part of his probation, Kamae must register as a sex offender, he cannot purchase or possess pornography and has to pay a $100 internet crime against children fee. He will also undergo sex offender treatment, Valenciano ruled.
