Child porn arrests include Oahu man

The nationwide investigation tracked members of a chat room on the Internet

Participants in an international Internet chat room transmitted live shots of child molestation and traded thousands of pictures of child pornography, federal authorities said yesterday in announcing charges against 27 people.

A 19-year-old Barbers Point man was among the individuals arrested and charged across the country for participating in Kiddypics & Kiddyvids, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Tong of the Hawaii district.

Giovanni L. Canapino*, a soccer referee, has been ordered to remain in custody until he can undergo an examination for sexual deviancy. He is charged with possessing child pornography.

In announcing the results of the 10-month investigation, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said the youngest child seen in pictures or video was less than 18 months old.

"The behavior in the chat room and the images sent around the world ... are the worst imaginable form of child pornography," Gonzales said at a news conference yesterday in Chicago.

In Hawaii, Tong said a "disturbing feature" of the chat rooms is that they featured live broadcasts of adult moderators sexually molesting children and that participants like Canapino were viewing them for "prurient interests."

Thirteen individuals have been indicted in nine states on charges including possessing, receiving, distributing and manufacturing child pornography. Fourteen others have been charged in Australia, Canada and Britain.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It notified Hawaii authorities about a Kapolei resident going by the screen name "Geograns 763" who had been sharing files on the chat room that were indicative of child pornography, according to court documents.

Canapino was arrested Saturday at his Barbers Point home. Federal agents recovered a computer hard drive and compact disks containing files of images depicting child pornography as well as printed copies of child pornography in a notebook under a bed allegedly belonging to Canapino.

Canapino has allegedly admitted to participating in these chat rooms. He went online March 5 after refereeing a boys soccer game indicating he was "horny as hell" and that he wanted to have oral sex with these boys, Tong said.

He also admitted to acting on these impulses and had sexual contact with two boys, ages 10 and 12. He denies having sexual intercourse with them or having sexual contact with the boys he refereed.

U.S. Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi said yesterday she will hear the government's request to detain Canapino without bail pending trial on March 29, after arrangements can be made for him to be evaluated.

Assistant Public Defender Pamela Byrne said she believes that Canapino should be released and that there are conditions that can be imposed on him to ensure the safety of the community.

"This gentleman is only 19 -- a teenager -- and the sooner we get him out of (federal detention center) the better," Byrne said.

Federal prosecutors object to Canapino's release because of the circumstances surrounding this case.