A 38-year-old Honolulu man who pleaded guilty in January to soliciting a law enforcement officer, posing as a 13-year-old girl online, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison.

Ronald Young, a self-employed carpenter also known as "kustom_builderz_86," will also be required by law to register as a sex offender.

Young, who was arrested at Kahala Mall in August 2007, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Steven S. Alm.

A new state law passed May 16 makes first-degree electronic enticement of a child punishable by a 10-year sentence but since Young's case predated passage of the law, Alm had the option to sentence him to probation with one year in prison or a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

State Attorney General Mark Bennett was pleased with the judge's sentencing.

"Internet predators misuse technology to reach young people in their homes and lure, trick, shame or pressure them into meeting for sex," Bennett said. "They target children who are too young or inexperienced to recognize the danger of meeting a stranger alone."

Today's sentence, Bennett said, "sends a clear message to Internet predators: law enforcement agents are looking for you, and if you are convicted, you will receive a 10-year prison sentence."