Former Moanalua wrestling coach pleads not guilty to federal child sex charges

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A former Moanalua High School girls wrestling coach pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday.

Sean Sakaida, 44, was indicted on charges of production, distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography and child sex trafficking.

Charges detailed in court records

Court records allege Sakaida had an inappropriate relationship with a teen girl he coached and that he frequently communicated with the minor victim via WhatsApp between 2025 and 2026.

In those texts, Sakaida allegedly received multiple sexually explicit photographs of the minor victim, and also allegedly produced and distributed multiple videos of himself engaged in sexual acts with the victim, documents claim.

Sakaida was also accused of enticing a second minor victim into engaging in a commercial sex act.

Jury selection is set for Dec. 14.

FBI seeks additional victims

The FBI’s Honolulu Field Office asks anyone who was possibly victimized by Sakaida to complete this online form: forms.fbi.gov/victims/SakaidaVictims/view

Previous coverage

• Former Moanalua girls wrestling coach indicted on child pornography, sex trafficking charges
• Federal prosecutors seek to keep former Hawaii wrestling coach behind bars on charges involving child sexual abuse images
• Judge orders ex-Moanalua wrestling coach to remain detained after FBI contacts more potential victims
• ‘Ignored red flags’: Attorney for Moanalua HS victim says school, DOE failed to protect student athletes
• FBI urges victims to come forward in Moanalua wrestling coach case
• High school wrestling coach accused of ‘inappropriate contact’