Retired police officer sentenced to 10 years for his attempted unlawful sexual enticement of a 13-year-old boy

News Release from US DoJ Hawaii, July 8, 2020

HONOLULU, Hawaii – James Dean Kalani Goeas, 63, of Waipahu, Hawaii, was sentenced today in federal court by United States District Judge Jill Otake to 120 months of imprisonment, and 15 years of supervised released for knowingly attempting to entice an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in unlawful sexual activity.

U.S. Attorney Kenji M. Price for the District of Hawaii stated that according to court documents and information presented in court, on March 23, 2019 and March 24, 2019, Goeas engaged in a series of online chats and telephonic text sessions with an undercover agent acting in the role of a 13-year-old male. During their conversations, Goeas arranged to meet the underage male at Maukalani Park with the intent to engage in sexual activity. When Goeas arrived at Maukalani Park on March 24, agents arrested him. At the time of Goeas’s arrest, agents located both condoms and lubricating gel in his vehicle. During a post-arrest statement, Goeas admitted to past unlawful sexual contact with minor males.

“While online platforms and cellphones enhance our ability to connect with friends and loved ones, unfortunately, child sex predators use them to try to sexually exploit children. My Office will continue to partner with the FBI to fight child sex exploitation, and through our enforcement efforts, remind child sex offenders that we will find a suitable home for them in federal prison,” stated U.S. Attorney Price.

"The FBI takes a proactive approach to identify and hold accountable individuals who seek to sexually exploit children. We remain vigilant and are committed to ensure that the children of Hawaii and across the United States are protected from these predators. Today's sentencing reaffirms the FBI's commitment to removing sexual predators from children’s lives and doing it through the justice system," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Eli S. Miranda. 

The case was investigated by the FBI and it was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.