A state employee serving a sentence for possession of child pornography is expected to keep his job when he gets out of prison.

Randy Honebrink, the Department of Land and Natural Resources aquatic resource information and education coordinator, was convicted and sentenced to two months in prison and five years of supervised release in September.  He admitted to downloading two sexually explicit photographs of two boys, age 12 and 14.

KHON News reports that Honebrink still retains his position with DLNR, and that he’s using his vacation leave time to serve his prison sentence. KHON reporter Brent Remadna also reports that Honebrink will keep his job after his sentence is up.

Over the years, Honebrink has been a high-profile local news source for shark related issues. For example:

• He was quoted in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in this 2002 column on a tiger shark attack.
• This 2004 Honolulu Advertiser article covered a website on shark attack data where Honebrink was prominently quoted.
• Honebrink was a member of the state Shark Task Force, quoted in this 2006 Honolulu Advertiser article on lowering the risk of shark attacks.
• I also quoted him in this 2007 Honolulu Star-Bulletin article that followed up on a shark attack at Bellows Beach.

Honebrink’s expertise is on display in this 2009 YouTube video of a town hall meeting with state Rep. Gene Ward.