2 admit they tried
to lure child over
Internet for sex
Two men admitted in court this week to using the Internet to arrange to have sex with 13-year-old girls.
Paul Clur, 36, pleaded no contest Wednesday before Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto to first-degree electronic enticement of a child, a law that went into effect in June 2002.
Ciro Kamai, 30, pleaded guilty before Circuit Judge Michael Town to the same charge.
Both have indicated to the court they intend to seek a deferral of their pleas. If granted, they will have a chance to keep their records clean.
Deputy Attorney General Kristin Izumi-Nitao said the state will be asking for the maximum 10-year prison term because of the predatory nature of the offense, targeting minor girls for the purpose of having sex, and the need for further deterrence.
Clur, a University of Hawaii graduate student and former chairman of the UH student caucus, was arrested in October when he showed up at the King Street Zippy's for a meeting he had arranged with the girl, then tried to flee. Kamai was arrested at Ala Moana Center in a separate case.
The girl they allegedly arranged to meet was actually an undercover law enforcement officer with the state attorney general's office working as part of the Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Myles Breiner, attorney for Clur, called his client's involvement an "unfortunate, isolated incident."
"He's paid a significant price for this, for the embarrassment and humiliation he's brought upon himself," Breiner said.
Clur, who is married, has no prior convictions or history of this type of conduct, Breiner said. Nothing on his computer suggests he was doing more than chatting online.
"All things considered, he's taken responsibility and acknowledges what he did was wrong and realizes people view this as a stain on his character," Breiner said.
Because of the charge, Clur is no longer head of the student caucus and has had a difficult time finding work, Breiner said.
"He's not doing what I think he wants, to get back into teaching and pursuing his doctorate."
Clur will be sentenced Aug. 3.
Craig Kimsel, Kamai's attorney, said his client took responsibility by pleading guilty and hopes for a deferral.
"He has a clean record," Kimsel said.
Kamai will be sentenced July 19.
Armando Sierra, a Mililani man who pleaded earlier under the new law, will be sentenced next Friday.