‘Definition of insanity’: Feds detail sex abuse allegations against Hawaii man

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Federal prosecutors have charged a Wahiawa man with producing and possessing child pornography, but court papers allege a much larger pattern of sexual abuse.

In filings, an FBI investigator said the charges against 30-year-old Bryson “Bula” Mahoe are connected to other allegations. Experts, meanwhile, said they expected more charges in the case.

“I don’t think it can get much worse,” said retired Honolulu Deputy Police Chief John McCarthy.

“This is almost a definition of insanity. How many times have we seen this happen? Children are taken from one family, put in a foster home, they’re adopted. And then the children are victims of a crime.”

Federal investigators said the abuse began when Bula Mahoe moved back to his parents home in Aiea in 2016. There were two foster kids in the home — one was 8 years old at the time and the other just 6.

Authorities said one of the foster parents “withheld food” from the young girls.

They added that Bula Mahoe “would give them food ... but in exchange” he sexually molested them.

The authorities said the abuse went on for nearly six years.

Mahoe was arrested Tuesday and is in federal custody. Although he has a detention hearing on Monday, federal prosecutors are asking that Mahoe remain behind bars at least until his trial.

The charges against Mahoe stem from nude videos he allegedly took of the two girls.

“I would suspect there’s additional charges to follow,” said attorney Myles Breiner.

“They may discover (more evidence) after looking at his various electronic devices, cell phones, surveillance cameras if he’s also been recording things and storing them elsewhere.”

Child Welfare officials previously investigated the case and turned it over to Honolulu Police Department, which arrested Mahoe in February, court records indicate.

FBI investigators said a search of Mahoe’s Wahiawa home and computers this year also uncovered additional pornographic videos and images of other children.

Mahoe’s attorney declined comment.

Hawaii News Now reached out to the state Department of Human Services — which oversees the state foster care system — but it had no immediate response.

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