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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, April 28, 2007

O'ahu man, 28, indicted in online enticement of 'child'

Advertiser staff

Matthew Goodman

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WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui grand jury yesterday indicted a 28-year-old O'ahu man on two counts of first-degree electronic enticement of a child.

Maui police said Matthew S. Goodman, who is self-employed, allegedly had numerous online sexual conversations with someone he thought was a juvenile female. He was arrested Wednesday at Kalama Park in Kihei after flying to Maui to meet his online chat partner, police said.

Goodman's bail was set at $1 million.

Electronic enticement of a child in the first degree is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A law passed by the Legislature last year requires a minimum one-year term.

The law is violated when a person uses a computer or other electronic device to communicate with a minor known to be under the age of 18, or with someone the person thinks is a minor, and agrees to meet with the minor and travels to an agreed-upon meeting place.

The Hawai'i Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has a site with Internet safety tips at www.hicac.com.