19-year-old Dominic Roberts of Kona, who had faced numerous felony charges regarding possession and dissemination of child pornography, was recently sentenced to prison in Kona Circuit Court.

Roberts was convicted of Promoting Child Abuse in the First Degree (a Class A felony), Use of a Computer in Commission of a Separate Crime (a Class A felony), and Promoting Child Abuse in the Second Degree – Dissemination (a Class B felony).

Roberts was sentenced to prison as a Young Adult Defendant and received a maximum sentence of 8 years prison on the Class A felonies, and 5 years prison on the Class B felony, to run concurrently. He  will also be required to register as a sex offender. The Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority will determine his minimum sentence.

The case stemmed from an ongoing investigation into online conduct that stretched across the globe as Roberts was affiliated with an online group that engaged in stalking, harassment and bullying of teenagers. Vulnerable children online were frequently forced to make digital content of a disturbing or repulsive nature, and then this content was further used to victimize them online as it was disseminated or used as blackmail or extortion for additional content.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf.

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