Hawaii man accused of sex with Cambodian girl

Thursday, September 10, 2009
AP

HONOLULU — A Hawaii man accused of having illicit sex with a 12-year-old girl in Cambodia is being held without bond in Honolulu pending a detention hearing.

Federal prosecutors say Richard David Mitchell of Kamuela, Hawaii, was arrested by police in Cambodia in August 2008. He remained in custody until he was returned to the U.S. on Saturday, when he was arrested at Honolulu International Airport.

U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo said Tuesday that the prosecution of the 61-year-old Mitchell is part of stepped up efforts to identify and prosecute "sex tourists" who travel to Cambodia to engage in sex acts with children.

According to court documents, witnesses reported seeing Mitchell engaging in curbside sex acts with the girl in August of last year.

Cambodia: American Arrested On Child Sex Charge In Cambodia

2008-09-02
AP

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: An American man has been detained in Cambodia for allegedly committing a sexual offense against a 13-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Hing Bunchea said Monday a 60-year-old tourist, Richard David Mitchell, was charged with soliciting sex with a minor and sexual molestation.

He said that, if convicted on both charges, the American man could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. He could not provide the hometown of the arrested man.

Urm Rathana, chief of Phnom Penh's anti-human trafficking unit, said police arrested Mitchell at a city park Thursday night (28 Aug).

He said witnesses informed the police after seeing the American expose himself to the girl.

Mitchell's Cambodian lawyer, Uch Sophal, declined to comment on the case.

Poverty and weak law enforcement have made Cambodia a preferred destination for foreigners seeking to prey on children, although local police say they have stepped up efforts against pedophiles.

US man charged with child sex in Cambodia

Monday, September 01, 2008

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — An American man has been arrested and charged in Cambodia with committing indecent acts against a 13-year-old child prostitute on a dark street, police and court officials said Monday.

Richard David Mitchell, 60, was arrested late Thursday in the capital Phnom Penh while allegedly having sex with the girl, said Urm Rathana, the municipal police chief in charge of anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection.

Mitchell, who denied the crime when police interrogated him, faces seven to 15 years in jail if convicted.

Hing Bunchea, a prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, told AFP that he charged Mitchell on Sunday with committing indecent acts against minors and soliciting a child prostitute.

Mitchell's lawyer could not be reached immediately for comment Monday.

Dozens of foreigners have been jailed for child sex crimes or deported to face trial in their home countries since Cambodia launched an anti-paedophilia push in 2003 to try to shake off its reputation as a haven for sex predators.