Pāhoa Couple Indicted on Multiple Child Abuse and Assault Charges

A Hilo grand jury returned indictments Dec. 29, 2025 charging Chesiree A.K. Canite, 37, and Chancen Micah-Kaikane Schutter, 34, with multiple counts tied to an alleged July 2025 incident involving a juvenile. The charges include first-degree promotion of child abuse and multiple counts of first- and third-degree sexual assault.

Police located and arrested Canite on Oʻahu on Dec. 31, 2025. Schutter turned himself in at the Hilo Police Station. Canite was arraigned Jan. 2, 2026, and released on bail under monitoring conditions. Bail for each defendant was initially set at $250,000.

The indictments and subsequent arrests bring a serious criminal case to the island court system and place child protection and community safety at the forefront for residents of Pāhoa and the wider Big Island County. The involvement of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section signals the case will move through channels that handle offenses involving minors, and the imposition of monitoring conditions on release reflects judicial concern for public safety and the welfare of the alleged victim.

Law enforcement officials have asked members of the public who may have information to contact Detective Jenny Lee of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section. Community cooperation with investigators is a common element in juvenile-abuse cases that can influence evidence gathering and prosecutorial decisions.

For families and organizations that serve children on the island, the case reinforces the importance of reporting suspected abuse and of understanding local resources and channels for doing so. Allegations of sexual assault and promotion of child abuse carry significant legal penalties and long-term consequences for survivors and communities; they also trigger multidisciplinary responses that involve police, prosecutors, and social services.

As the case proceeds through pretrial and potential court hearings, residents should expect additional legal steps including preliminary court appearances and possible motions from defense and prosecution. The high initial bail amounts and monitoring conditions indicate the courts are treating the indictments with gravity. Anyone with information relevant to crimes involving minors is urged to contact law enforcement through the Area I Juvenile Aid Section so investigators can fully assess and pursue all available leads.