A 50-year-old Kealakekua man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to possessing and disseminating pornographic images of minors.

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Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy DeWeese ordered John Vincent Gonzales to appear for a jury trial in Kona Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 19, 2027.

Gonzales is charged with two counts of second-degree promotion of child abuse, a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment, upon conviction. He was indicted by a Kona grand jury on Sep. 2.

According to the indictment, Gonzales possessed “30 or more images of any form of child pornography, and the content of at least one image contained a minor who is younger than the age of 12.”

Police said the charges stem from an investigation in which officers recovered an electronic device that was later found to contain numerous sexually explicit images involving children. Officers arrested Gonzales on Tuesday.

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A bench warrant issued with the indictment set bail at $100,000 and Gonzales is free after posting bail.

Bail conditions include no contact with minors, no possession of pornography or pornographic images on any electronic devices and no photography of any minors.

Police are asking anyone who may have information related to this investigation to contact Detective John Kari at (808) 326-4646, ext, 265, or [email protected].

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Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.