Former Moanalua High School Wrestling Coach Charged With Possession of Child Pornography

Sean Sakaida, a former girls’ wrestling coach at Moanalua High School, was charged in U.S. District Court last week with possession of child pornography.

The investigation began in January when a member of the Moanalua girls’ wrestling team informed investigators that Sakaida had a relationship with another student that went beyond that of coach and athlete.

The case centers on the use of encrypted messaging and cloud storage to facilitate and preserve illicit material. Federal investigators utilized a combination of WhatsApp records and iCloud backups to build the criminal complaint.

WhatsApp and iCloud evidence in Sakaida investigation

The FBI’s evidence relies heavily on digital footprints found on the defendant’s devices and accounts. While the victim’s mother initially declined to cooperate, she provided agents in July with a recording of a WhatsApp conversation found on her daughter’s phone. That recording featured a user soliciting sexually explicit images via a phone number investigators identified as belonging to Sakaida.

Further analysis of Sakaida’s WhatsApp account revealed a pattern of near-daily communication with the victim, including frequent video calls. In a 25-day window between August 21 and September 14, Sakaida contacted the victim more than 5,600 times through a combination of texts, images, telephone calls, and video calls.

The FBI later executed a search warrant on Sakaida’s iCloud account. Agents recovered copies of the WhatsApp photos sent between December of the previous year and January. The affidavit notes that the iCloud account also contained wrestling-related notes listing players’ birthdates, including the victim’s, which investigators say indicates Sakaida knew the student was a minor.

FBI search for additional victims

Although the current charges stem from the evidence involving one student, the FBI is investigating whether other athletes were targeted. The agency alleges that Sakaida reportedly targeted other wrestlers as far back as 2012.

The FBI’s Honolulu Field Office has established a confidential website for individuals to submit information regarding any contact they may have had with Sakaida.

Legal proceedings and potential sentencing

Sakaida appeared in court on Monday for his initial appearance. He has not yet entered a plea. U.S. attorneys have filed a motion to detain Sakaida without bail, a request that will be addressed at a detention hearing scheduled for September 30.

A preliminary hearing is set for October 13. If convicted, Sakaida faces a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years, along with potential fines reaching $250,000.