Three Hawaii Island men were arrested in the Kona area this week after a multi-day compliance sweep targeting registered sex offenders who allegedly failed to keep their information up to date. Authorities identified the suspects as Garth Coleman, 53, of Holualoa; Joseph Debus, 56, of Kailua-Kona; and Alexsandr Skelcey, 34, of Kailua-Kona, and said each could face new charges tied to the alleged registration violations.
The arrests followed a three-day compliance operation led by the Department of the Attorney General’s Investigations Division in coordination with federal and state partners. In a statement quoted by Hawaii News Now, Investigations Division Chief Tom Alipio said sex offender registration rules are designed to protect communities and help law enforcement track where convicted offenders are living, and added that sweeps like this one are meant to ensure registrants follow their legal obligations.
What the law requires
Hawaii law requires so-called "covered offenders" to keep their registration information current and to verify those details on a regular basis. Prosecutors can bring cases when they believe a registrant intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly failed to comply. According to Hawaii Revised Statutes §846E‑9, failure to comply with covered-offender registration requirements is a class C felony that can carry a maximum prison term of up to five years.
Registry tools and reporting
The state’s Sex Offender & Other Covered Offender Registry allows the public to search registrants and sign up for email notifications when an offender updates information. The site also offers FAQs that explain registration duties and how to raise concerns. According to the Sex Offender & Other Covered Offender Registry, members of the public can enroll in alerts and contact the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center if they believe someone is not following registration rules.
Enforcement context
State investigators have conducted similar targeted efforts in recent years to track down noncompliant registrants. A Department of the Attorney General news release about a 2025 initiative known as "Operation Safe Streets" described coordinated sweeps that led to the arrests of noncompliant covered offenders, reflecting an ongoing push by the Investigations Division to enforce registration requirements and locate people who may have moved or failed to verify their information.
Hawaii News Now reported that the three men "could face new charges" following the latest compliance operation, and prosecutors have not yet filed formal counts in the cases. Officials say anyone with information about possible registration violations can contact the Attorney General’s Investigations Division or the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center for guidance and to submit tips.
