LIHUE, Hawaii — Operation Keiki Shield, a partnership of the Department of Attorney General and various law enforcement agencies, has arrested two Kauai men — Nicholas Wehrly, 34, of Eleele, and Eric Nakamoto, 39, of Hanamaulu between Sept. 9 and 11. Both have been charged with first degree electronic enticement of a child. Bail has been set at $20,000 each.

What You Need To Know

  • Operation Keiki Shield identifies, locates and arrests offenders who commit internet-facilitated sexual crimes against children and identifies and rescues child victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse

  • Five suspects have been arrested on Kauai since the first iteration of Operation Keiki Shield

  • Tips for children, teens and adults to stay safe are available on the Hawaii ICAC Task Force website

Operation Keiki Shield is a partnership between the Department of the Attorney General, its Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, plus federal and military law enforcement partners, the Kauai Police Department and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Its mission is to identify, locate and arrest offenders who commit internet-facilitated sexual crimes against children, and identify and rescue child victims of child sexual exploitation and abuse, according to a Kauai County news release.

“The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General thanks the Kauai Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies taking part in Operation Keiki Shield for their leadership in keeping Kauai’s children safe from these online predators,” said First Deputy Attorney General Valerie Kato in the release. “Our Internet Crimes Against Children Unit will continue to work in concert with Hawaii’s police departments and prosecutors to hold these criminals to account for their illicit actions.”

Hosted by the KPD, Operation Keiki Shield #14 included officers and agents from KPD, the Dept. of the Attorney General, ICAC Task Force, Maui Police Department, Honolulu Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Homeland Security Investigations Honolulu.

“Speaking as a father and husband, there is nothing more important to me than the safety of our keiki,” stated Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck. “Mahalo to the Department of the Attorney General, our county, state, federal and military law partners for their aggressive and steadfast mission to seek and arrest child predators through the Keiki Shield operation.”

Five suspects have been arrested on Kauai since the first iteration of Operation Keiki Shield.

Tips for children, teens and adults to stay safe are available on the Hawaii ICAC Task Force website.

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii.