Pahoa man appears in court on child porn charges

FBI raids bed and breakfast in investigation

By Kenny Choi

Published  9:28 AM HST Oct 12, 2012

A Pahoa bed and breakfast owner suspected of producing and distributing child child pornography was charged and made an appearance in federal court on Thursday.

FBI agents raided the Hale Makamae Bed & Breakfast late Wednesday night.  Inside, they recovered a computer believed to have pornographic images of children engaging in sexual acts with John Tucker of Pahoa.

Tucker co-owns the bed and breakfast, an idyllic getaway that offers family specials where children stay free.

"Total shock.  Couldn't believe this is happening in our community.  I know the family," said neighbor Alfred Dettweiler.

According to court documents, the FBI initiated its investigation when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received pornographic images of a man and two minors.

In those pictures, there were two clues:  a 2008-2009 telephone book issued by Hawaiian Telcom for Hawaii Island; and a picture of Tucker, which the FBI released on Tuesday asking for the public's help.

Court documents also said, "Within hours, several callers identified the individual as John Tucker."

On the same day, FBI agents searched the Hale Makamae Bed & Breakfast, investigators interviewed a 10-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl at Tucker's residence.

The children identified themselves in pornographic pictures and confirmed the "male depicted in the pictures was Tucker."

KITV made several calls to the Hale Makamae Bed & Breakfast.  None were returned.

At his court appearance on Thursday, Tucker agreed to be detained.

His next court appearance is on Oct. 25.