KEALAKEKUA— The federal government wants to hold a Kailua-Kona man charged with sex crimes against children without bail while the case unfolds.
Michael Phillip Patrakis, 43, faces 27 counts of production of images of child pornography and one count of sex trafficking a minor.
He has a bond hearing today in Honolulu. Patrakis is a flight risk and a danger to the community, said U.S. prosecuting attorney Darren Ching, so it’s appropriate to deny bail.
Patrakis was arrested on Sept. 17 by the Hawaii Police Department, the same day a former roommate told them Patrakis had images of child abuse and possible pornography of the girls living in his home on his home security system. The HPD investigation was supported by special agents from the Department of Homeland Security.
In an indictment released Nov. 11, Patrakis was charged with 17 counts, including first-degree meth trafficking, first-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, four counts of first-degree promoting child abuse, two counts of second-degree promoting child abuse, abuse of a family or household member, third-degree sexual assault, kidnapping, second-degree reckless endangering, first-degree terroristic threatening and use of a computer in commission of a separate crime.
Several of the drug charges were for allegedly providing the drugs to the victim, while the promoting child abuse charges were related to the photos.
When the federal government charged its case, they focused on the child pornography and sex trafficking elements. Ching said they were looking at the cases that were appropriate, provable and had federal jurisdiction.
The alleged crimes began after March 4, 2015, when a 15-year-old girl, identified as JF1 in the affidavit, and her 2-year-old daughter, identified as JF2, moved into a rental room at Patrakis’s Kumu Place home.
The 15-year-old victim’s father paid for her rent, including prepaying for three months, the affidavit reads. The court document says he said “his daughter, JF1, was 15 years old and (Patrakis) better keep his hands off her.”
The document alleges Patrakis took numerous sexual photos of both girls. He then used nude or partially clothed photos of her to advertise on various adult websites, the government said, both for casual sex and for prostitution.
“JF1 related (to investigators) how Patrakis arranged for her to have sex for money through online Craigslist postings, and the two shared the profits of his exploitation of her. While pimping JF1, Patrakis also supplied JF1 with drugs for her to use,” the affidavit reads.
She would make as much as $2,000 per night, according to the affidavit, in part by charging $500 an hour for “weird fetishes.”
This was possible as they had a wealth of offers, the affidavit reads, as “if someone would not pay the price, Patrakis and JF1 still had 200 people replying to the online advertisements.”
She was allowed “to choose who she wanted to have sex with,” according to the affidavit.
After he was arrested, Patrakis posted bond in November. It was originally set at $250,000, but was reduced to $100,000 by Judge Ronald Ibarra, in part due to Patrakis’s indigence, court records show.
While out on bond, Patrakis is accused of using the victim to acquire drugs. Patrakis also reportedly arranged for her to have sex on Nov. 24 with three men in Waikoloa for heroin, as neither had enough money to purchase the drug, according to state and federal filings.
“I’ve been doing everything I need to be doing,” Patrakis told Ibarra during his bond revocation hearing, which he had to attend after the victim informed the court of his actions.
Patrakis was also homeless during that time
“I respectful ask you to reduce the bail, I’m doing everything I need to do,” Patrakis told the judge.
He said he needed to be out to see his sons, who were with their mother.
After the federal case was filed, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sherry Lawson filed an order of nolle prosequi without prejudice in the case, effectively ending the state case and allowing for the possibility for it to be resumed.
The affidavit also says that Patrakis and his two sons, ages 5 and 9, physically abused the 2-year-old girl, but he isn’t facing child abuse charges.
Patrakis will be represented in Honolulu by Richard D. Gronna, who was appointed by the court. Ching and Jill Otake are lead attorneys for the government and are asking that bond not to available for Patrakis.
The hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today.