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A man awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and child pornography charges involving a 15-year-old girl and the girl’s 2-year-old daughter is blaming his home surveillance system provider for his troubles.
Michael Phillip Patrakis, 44, of Kona, filed a civil lawsuit against the provider, Nest Labs, in U.S. District Court last week. He filed the lawsuit without the assistance of a lawyer. Patrakis is in custody at the Federal Detention Center without the opportunity for release on bail or bond pending trial in January.
Patrakis is facing up to
30 years in prison for child pornography and up to life behind bars for sex trafficking of a child. Patrakis is accused of taking pictures and video in 2015 of him having sex with a 15-year-old girl and posting the pictures online to solicit other people for sex. Investigators say Patrakis took pictures of himself and others abusing the 2-year-old girl.
He claims in his lawsuit that Nest Labs granted a former roommate unauthorized access to his account. Federal investigators say in court documents that the former roommate showed Hawaii County police incriminating video on the Nest Labs account. Patrakis claims that he never granted the former roommate access to his account but that she hacked into and took control of it. When he asked to have control of his account returned to him, he says Nest Labs told him it was unable to do so.
Patrakis’ criminal lawyer has filed a request to throw out evidence investigators recovered from Patrakis’ computers, smartphones, digital cameras and other electronic devices using search warrants that were approved based on what the former roommate showed police. A hearing on the request is scheduled for next month.
Patrakis claims he has lost his freedom and all of his belongings — including cars, motorcycles and a $400,000 home in Arizona — as a result of Nest Labs’ actions.
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