Photos of the suspect
Update: John Tucker’s initial court appearance is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today, Thursday, October 11, in the Honolulu U.S. District Courtroom of U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren. FBI Agent Tom Simon says he will release the criminal complaint after the court hearing.
Original story from Wednesday night, October 10: The FBI’s Honolulu field office arrested John Tucker, age 56, of Pahoa Wednesday evening at 9:40 p.m. for production and distribution of child pornography. Tucker was arrested without incident.
The arrest stemmed from tips from the public after the FBI released photographs of a man they said was pictured in photos on the internet, having sex with young children estimated to be 4- and 9-years-old. The FBI was able to enlarge and enhance the photo enough to see a Hawaiian Telecom directory for Hawaii Island in the background, so they believed the suspect had been or was on Hawaii Island. They released a photo of the suspect on Monday. Special Agent Tom Simon said at the time they were seeking help from the public in identifying the man. He said response from the public was almost instantaneous.
Sources say Tucker was arrested at the Hale Makamae Bed & Breakfast in the Leilani Estates subdivision. Tucker and his wife, Petra Wiesenbauer, run the B & B. They’ve been on Hawaii Island since the end of 1998. They have two children, a girl, 7 and a boy, 9. There is no indication that Wiesenbauer is implicated in any way.
This was a probable cause arrest, so no criminal complaint has been filed. It is expected that a formal criminal complaint will be filed Thursday, and the affidavit detailing the probable cause will become part of the public record at that time.
Tucker will be transported by the FBI from Hawaii’s Big Island to Oahu to face these charges in court. It is expected that he will have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Honolulu on Thursday. No time nor courtroom has been set.
The FBI worked with the Hawaii County Police Department in partnership in this joint investigation. Special Agent Simon stressed that an arrest is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
