The ex-chief microbiologist at Tripler Army Medical Center was sentenced to nine months in federal prison after sending sexually explicit messages to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl he was trying to coax into a sexual
relationship.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Kaleolani Kayatani, 50, aka “Daddy Dom,”
a 26-year veteran, pleaded guilty Aug. 12 to one count of attempted transfer of obscene matter to a minor.
He was originally charged April 18 with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. The minor he was sexting in the case was an undercover federal agent.
In addition to the nine months behind bars, Kayatani will serve three years of supervised release, pay a $15,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. He must surrender to federal custody Jan. 15.
Kayatani was facing up to a decade in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. Kayatani must register as a sex offender. Kayatani was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Nammar prosecuted the case.
Kayatani’s pre-sentence report recommended a sentence of a year and a day,
according to federal court records. Federal prosecutors asked that Kayatani serve 15 months in federal prison.
His attorney, William A. Harrison, had asked Seabright to sentence Kayatani to five years of probation, six months of home confinement and continued participation in sex-offender-specific
treatment.
When Kayatani started sexting the undercover federal agent, he was trolling the adult website “Feeld” and thought he was hitting on a 20-year-old girl. An examination of Kayatani’s phone revealed “no evidence of similar acts, whether online or offline, and no possession of child pornography.”
Kayatani, who spent
12 days at the Federal Detention Center, Honolulu and eight months on house arrest, has no criminal record, mental health or sexual abuse history.
“The record demonstrates an isolated, short-lived offense involving no actual
minor victim, a spotless criminal history, exceptional military and public-health service including a combat deployment to Iraq and critical contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, sustained rehabilitation efforts, and substantial collateral consequences already incurred,” wrote Harrison in a Nov. 29 sentencing memo, noting Kayatani pleaded guilty and cooperated with the government.
In a Dec. 3 letter to Seabright, Kayatani apologized to his wife, two children, court and the community, expressing remorse for his behavior. He told Seabright about the intense psychoanalysis and counseling he is participating in.
Rebuilding his family and regaining their trust are Kayatani’s top priorities. Child Protective Services mandated separation from his minor child, who is 15.
Kayatani told Seabright he learned that any “sexual communication with a minor is not appropriate” and can negatively impact the development of a person’s self image.
“… I now recognize the harmful arousal patterns of ‘sexting’ as it caused me to become caught up in the excitement and I failed to think about the situation, the person and the potential harm to them and others. I have discontinued this behavior and am learning ways to experience pleasure through healthy means,” Kayatani wrote to Seabright. “My behavior was absolutely unacceptable and there is no excuse for it. Over the past eight months I’ve taken the time to reflect on the harm my actions have caused. Had I thought about my wife, my children, family and friends beforehand, I would not be in this position today. I cannot apologize enough to my wife, but I am blessed that she remains at my side and gave me the opportunity to rebuild trust and restore her faith in me.”
Kayatani worked at Tripler until July 1, 2023. He served in the U.S. Army from June 28, 1997, until July 1, 2023. During the pandemic, Kayatani helped oversee COVID-19 testing at Tripler.
Prior to that leadership posting, Kayatani also served as chief of lab at the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq.
He was arrested April 17 at a house near a thrift store on Schofield Barracks. Kayatani was on base thinking he was meeting 14-year-old “Izzy” who he sent sexually explicit messages to starting on April 15.
“Izzy” was a special agent with the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division participating in an online sting operation looking for pedophiles.
On April 17, Kayatani was monitored by law enforcement as he drove to drop his then-14-year-old child at school.
After dropping off his kid, federal agents watched Kayatani drive to another house in Honolulu before
using his U.S. Department of Defense identification to access Schofield Barracks to meet “Izzy.”
He was arrested at the Schofield Barracks house where he was supposed to meet “Izzy.”
Kayatani used the dating application “Feeld” to match with “Izzy” who presented herself online as “here to have fun. Cool vibes only,” according to federal court records.
Eleven minutes after exchanging mobile phone numbers with the undercover Army CID special agent, Kayatani learned that “Izzy” was 14.
Kayatani admitted to outlining how he wanted the sexual relationship with “Izzy” to go, according to the plea agreement.
