Local News

Three arrested in Operation Keiki Shield, bail set at $100,000

The Maui News

Three men were arrested Saturday after each solicited someone he believed to be a child for sex and took steps to meet for sexual activity, police said.

Andrew Lovell, 43, of Wailuku; John Staten, 40, of Lahaina; and Joel Quiocho, 26, of Kahului were each charged with first-degree electronic enticement of a child. Bail was set at $100,000 each.

Instead of meeting with minors, the three were arrested by law enforcement officers, as part of Operation Keiki Shield 12, which was carried out from Friday to Sunday, police said.

The operation is meant to identify, locate and arrest offenders who commit internet-facilitated sexual crimes against children and to identify and rescue child victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse, police said.

"The online sexual exploitation of young children and teenagers alike in our community is happening and is a real threat," police said in a news release. "The offenders come from all

different walks of life and all different backgrounds. The only commonality is the lasting emotional and physical damage that they do to our children."

The cases are being referred to the Maui County prosecutor's office for review, with some cases possibly referred to federal law enforcement agencies.

Since the first Operation Keiki Shield on Maui in March 2020, 26 suspects have been arrested, police said.

Along with Maui Police Department officers, the operation included officers and agents from the Department of the Attorney General, Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, Honolulu and Kauai police departments, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Honolulu, U.S. Secret Service and FBI.