44 year-old Joseph Donald Tibbs of Puna pleaded “Guilty” to charges related to multiple sexual assaults of minors and promoting child abuse for incidents that occurred between February and May 2025.

On July 21, Tibbs appeared in Hilo Circuit Court where he entered “Guilty” pleas to charges of Promoting Child Abuse in the First Degree in Counts 1 and 2 and Sexual Assault in the First Degree in Count 7, 8, 9, and 10.

According to the change of plea form, Tibbs has agreed to serve a forty-year prison term. Counts 1, 7, and 9 will be served concurrently for a twenty-year sentence and Counts 2, 8, and 10 will be served concurrently for a consecutive twenty-year sentence. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Tibbs, who remains in custody having been denied bail, was ordered to appear for his sentencing hearing on October 15, 2025.

Both Sexual Assault in the First Degree and Promoting Child Abuse in the First Degree are class A felony offenses and carry a maximum penalty of a twenty-year prison term. This collaborative law enforcement investigation included the Hawai‘i State Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Hawai‘i Police Department, Maui Police Department, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf.

 

HPD Photo