The Federal Bureau of Investigation, pursuant to a tip, investigated and arrested an Alaskan man for allegedly traveling abroad to commit child sexual abuse. He was arrested following a months-long investigation into his actions which included recordings taken by an undercover agent. He was arrested in 2013 and sentenced in March of this year. He is facing 18 years in federal prison for attempting to sexually exploit children over several years and for attempting to arrange a child sex tourism trip to Cambodia for himself and a few companions.
The authorities were first notified in 2012 by the Anchorage police. The police had received a tip from someone who believed he was traveling to Cambodia for child sex tourism. Child sex tourism means traveling to other countries to have sex with children. Some countries have lower ages of consent while others lack the capacity to enforce their laws.
Regardless of the circumstances, this case marks an important milestone for the U.S. prosecutors. This man was arrested and convicted for his actions based in another country. This case represents a growing trend in U.S. investigations to find, arrest and prosecute people based upon their alleged actions in another country. The U.S. first initiated these laws during the Drug War, but it appears to have expanded them to terrorism and now sexual abuse crimes.
If you are confronting child sexual abuse charges, then you should call a defense attorney as soon as possible. These are emotionally charged offenses and may likely result in unfair treatment by the judge, jury, police and prosecutor. A defense attorney may be the only person that stands on your side during these proceedings. Retaining the assistance of an attorney ensures that you get a fair trial and that your rights are respected.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Alaska Man Receives Prison Term for Crimes Committed in Cambodia,” May 31, 2016