In a sobering revelation of criminal acts against children, Hawai‘i Island police have recently taken Joseph Donald Tibbs, a 44-year-old man from Puna into custody, implicating him in a series of sexual-based offenses involving minors. According to a report by the Hawaii Police Department, Tibbs faces substantial charges which include seven counts of first-degree sexual assault and numerous other offenses highlighting a disturbing history of child exploitation.
Tibbs was charged last Friday, and his bail was subsequently set at an astonishing $4,815,000. He remains detained by police, pending a court appearance that took place on June 2. The investigation that led to his arrest was a joint effort between the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and several law enforcement agencies, including the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, the Hawai‘i Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations, with support from the Maui Police Department, as reported by the Hawaii Police Department.
The initial tip-off in March 2025 about Tibbs' possession and distribution of child pornography set the investigation in motion. As the probe deepened, law enforcement officials identified some female victims in the recovered photos and videos, but as the inquiry advances, the fear is that more victims are yet to be identified. Tibbs' apprehension outside his Mountain View residence prefaced a thorough search of his home, where investigators found a plethora of electronic devices and sexual-related evidence, as per by the Hawaii Police Department.
Investigators say Tibbs’ alleged abuse happened over more than a year and appears to have been ongoing and planned. The investigation is still active, with police examining evidence and trying to identify more possible victims. The Hawai‘i Police Department is asking anyone with information about Tibbs or the case to contact Detective Chandler Nacino. People are also urged to report any crimes against children through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Crime Stoppers, or by calling 911 if it's an emergency.
