A University of Hawaii professor pleaded not guilty Thursday in federal court to charges of possessing and transporting child pornography.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren ordered Beei-Huan Chao, 61, released on an unsecured $50,000 bond into the custody of his wife, Jean. The judge ordered Chao to obtain a $250,000 bond secured by property he owns within 30 days, and scheduled a hearing for an update on Sept. 6.
A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday charges Chao with one count of distributing “visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, namely, approximately 14 videos.” The indictment says that on or about Feb. 11, Chao knowingly transported and shipped the material.
The indictment also charges him with one count of possessing child pornography in files on a desktop computer and external hard drive on or about June 2. The files included visual depictions of minors under age 12 and were produced using materials that had been shipped and transported between states and involved commerce with a foreign country.
The transportation charge carries a minimum punishment of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20 years, while the possession charge carries a maximum 20-year sentence because it involved minors under the age of 12.
“The evidence against him is very strong,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Nammar said in court.
Chao, who was arrested Wednesday, entered his plea wearing a white jumpsuit and a belly chain with handcuffs attached in front.
In arguing that his client does not pose a flight risk, attorney Michael Park said Chao, who immigrated to Hawaii from Taiwan, has been in the islands since 1981 and is an American citizen with full-time employment.
Chao is a mechanical engineering professor at UH Manoa. A university spokesman said the professor was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday morning.
While Chao awaits trial, the judge ordered him not to have any contact with any person under age 18, including contact in person, by phone, written or electronically.
Park and Jean Chao declined to comment outside the courtroom.
