Charges filed against individual for alleged sexual misconduct involving two underage parties.
Headline: Mountain View Man Holds Bail Hearing for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Minors
The state has requested that Joseph Donald Tibbs, a 44-year-old Puna resident, be kept in custody without bail as he faces 15 felony charges, including first-degree sexual assault and first-degree promotion of child abuse. These charges are connected to the alleged sexual abuse of minors between March and May 2025.
The motion for incarceration without bail, filed by Deputy Prosecutor Annaliese Wolf, alleges that Tibbs presents a serious threat to victims and is a flight risk. The court is set to convene a hearing on this matter on June 15, 2025.
According to court documents, Tibbs is accused of producing or participating in child pornography involving two different minors, referred to as Persons 1 and 2 in the indictment. He is also accused of distributing child pornography and possessing numerous images of child pornography, some depicting minors below the age of 12.
Allegations also state that Tibbs sexually assaulted both Persons 1 and 2, who are female and related closely enough to him that their marriage would be legally forbidden. To protect the privacy of the minors and ensure the continued investigation, court records identifying the victims have been sealed.
Among the other charges Tibbs faces are promoting child abuse in the second degree, using a computer in the commission of a separate crime, and incest. The latter charges carry a potential prison sentence of 20 years per count.
Tibbs pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 3, 2025, and Judge Peter Kubota has set further proceedings for August 29. No trial date has been scheduled yet.
The investigation into Tibbs' alleged crimes has been a collaborative effort between the Hawai‘i State Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Hawai‘i County Police Department, Maui Police Department, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Following Tibbs' arrest on May 29, 2025, police executed a search warrant at his Mountain View residence and recovered numerous electronic devices and related evidence.
Authorities believe there may be other unidentified victims and are encouraging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. Email John Burnett for more details at [email protected].
- Despite the recent allegations of sexual abuse of minors, a hearing for the release on bail of Joseph Donald Tibbs, a suspect in a crime-and-justice case, is scheduled for June 15, 2025.
- The general-news headline titled "Mountain View Man Holds Bail Hearing for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Minors" discusses a man who is also facing charges of promoting child abuse, incest, and using a computer in the commission of a separate crime, all falling under the category of crime-and-justice.
- The health-and-wellness and sexual-health concerns that may arise from child abuse cases have been addressed by the investigation into Joseph Donald Tibbs, who is also accused of producing and distributing child pornography, a grave violation that should concern everyone seeking a safer environment for children.
