Police Arrest and Charge Puna Man with Sexual Assault

Hawai‘i Island police detectives have arrested and charged 44-year-old Joseph Donald Tibbs, of Puna, with an array of sexual-related offenses against minors.

On Friday evening, May 30, 2025, upon conferral with the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Tibbs was charged with the following offenses:

• Seven counts of first-degree sexual assault
• Two counts of first-degree promoting child abuse
• Two counts of second-degree promoting child abuse
• Two counts of incest
• Two counts of use of a computer in the commission of a separate crime

His bail was set at $4,815,000.

Tibbs remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon, June 2, in Hilo District Court.  

The charges against Tibbs stem from a months-long collaborative investigation between the law enforcement Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, the Hawai‘i Police Department, the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Maui Police Department also assisted in recovering and analyzing various electronic devices.

In March 2025, law enforcement was first alerted to Tibbs through tips identifying him as being in possession of, and electronically disseminating, various forms of child pornography related material. As the investigation progressed, investigators identified some of the female victims in photos and videos; however, there appear to be additional victims who police have yet to identify.

On Thursday morning, May 29, law enforcement arrested Tibbs shortly after he left his Mountain View residence.

Following Tibbs’ arrest, police executed a search warrant on his residence where numerous electric devices and various sexual-related evidence was recovered.

During the course of this investigation, police determined that Tibbs had allegedly been engaging in sexual conduct with minors for over a period of one year.

This investigation remains continuing as investigators continue to conduct forensic examinations of evidence and attempt to identify additional potential victims. Police ask anyone who may have information related to Tibbs and this investigation to contact Detective Chandler Nacino of the Vice Section in Kona at (808) 326-4646, extension 312, or via email at Chandler.Nacino@hawaiicounty.gov. 

If you have knowledge of or suspect someone of committing crimes against children, police urge you to report it to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) 24-hour hotline at 1-800-843-5678, Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300, or call 911.