Waianae High School teacher arrested for allegedly soliciting sex from a minor

A 72-year-old Waianae High School teacher was arrested by Honolulu police Tuesday for allegedly trying to solicit sex from a law enforcement officer posing as a minor online.

Mark Jackola was arrested at the CVS located at 84-1660 Farrington Highway at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday on suspicion of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, a class B felony. If convicted, Jackola faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

He was released pending investigation at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Jackola has eight and a half years of service with the Hawaii Department of Education, according to a DOE spokeswoman.

“As of today, Mark Jackola has been placed on an appropriate leave from his position at Waianae High School while the Department looks into this matter,” according to a DOE statement sent to the Star-Advertiser through a spokesperson.

According to the Hawaii Revised Statutes, commercial sexual exploitation of a minor occurs when an adult offers or agrees to provide anything of value to a member of a police department, a sheriff, or a law enforcement officer who represents that person’s self as a minor to engage in sexual conduct.

Any adult who provides anything of value or asks for sex in exchange for something of value violates the statute.