The National Police announced the arrest of a US citizen accused of sexual exploitation of 13 and 14 year old teenagers in Puerto Plata. The Police accuse 50-year old Theodore William Symonds of violating Law 137-03 on trafficking in migrants and people and Law 136-03 for the Protection of Rights of Children and Teenagers. The Police say that Symonds is a fugitive from US justice where he faces accusations of terrorism and theft.
He was arrested in a condominium in Sosua in the company of a 13-year old girl.
The Police said that one of his alleged victims was pregnant and an abortion was carried out in exchange for the repair of the child mother’s home to avoid being reported to authorities.
A Puerto Plata court ordered three months preventive custody for Symonds.
Prosecutors accuse Symonds of making pornographic videos of minors that he then sold.
Puerto Plata Prosecutor, Osvaldo Bonilla, urged that the population report the cases of sexual exploitation of minors at the Unit of Comprehensive Care to Victims of Gender, Intrafamily Violence, and Sexual Crimes under judge Luisa Marmolejos in Puerto Plata. This is the fourth case presented of this kind at the Puerto Plata jurisdiction so far this year.
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27 March 2017
