Jury finds US man guilty of abusing Cambodian orphans
US authorities said nine Cambodian children disclosed Daniel Stephen Johnson’s abuse in lengthy interviews with trained child-forensic interviewers
A US jury found a Christian missionary from Oregon guilty of multiple sex abuse charges for molesting children living at an unlicensed Cambodian orphanage that he operated in Phnom Penh over a period of years.
Daniel Stephen Johnson, 40, was convicted of six counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count each of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and aggravated sexual assault with children. He faces a minimum of 30 years in prison when sentenced in August in Eugene, Oregon.
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US authorities said nine Cambodian children ranging in age from 7 to 18 have disclosed Johnson’s abuse or past abuse in lengthy interviews with trained child-forensic interviewers.
The FBI launched an extensive investigation of Johnson and his potential victims after learning of the case in 2013, the US Attorney’s Office in Portland said.
“The despicable nature of this defendant’s conduct is beyond understanding,” said Billy Williams, US attorney for the District of Oregon.
“The fact that this defendant abused children under the guise of being a missionary and orphanage director is appalling.”