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 You are in: Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs > Bureau of Public Affairs: Press Relations Office > Press Releases (Other) > 2004 > March 
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 24, 2004


Washington State Man Convicted in Protect Act Case

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security recently assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the investigation and arrest of the first individual to be prosecuted under the 2003 Protect Act. The Protect Act makes it illegal for U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to travel outside the United States to engage in sexual acts with children. On Wednesday, March 17, at the U.S. District Court in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Michael Lewis Clark pleaded guilty to two charges of engaging in and attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bangkok received information from a non-governmental organization that Clark was engaging in sex tourism with children in Cambodia. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contacted the Diplomatic Security special agent assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh for assistance in conducting the investigation there. The Diplomatic Security agent helped U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement interview victims and witnesses, provided translation support and coordinated the investigation efforts among U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Cambodian National Police and other Cambodian Government Ministries.

Clark was arrested by the Cambodian National Police on charges of “debauchery involving illicit sexual conduct” with two Cambodian boys, aged 10 and 13. The Diplomatic Security special agent further assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by petitioning the Cambodian Government to drop the charges and deport Clark to the United States so he could be prosecuted under the Protect Act. We were very pleased with the full cooperation we received from the Government of Cambodia and the Cambodian National Police in our mutual efforts to stop American citizens from committing sex crimes against children.

If prosecuted to the fullest extent under the law of the Protect Act, Clark could serve a maximum sentence of 30 years for each offense and pay a fine of $250,000.

2004/313

Released on March 24, 2004

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