|
CASA ALIANZA WINS RULING AGAINST THREE AMERICANS CONDEMNED FOR PROSTITUTING CHILDREN IN HONDURAS January 20th, 2000 Yesterday a Honduran court condemned three American citizens to lengthy jail terms for promoting the prostitution of minors, profiting from the prostitution of others, and the cover up of a crime. The First Criminal Judge of Letters of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Judge Nicolas Barahona, sentenced US citizens Anthony Robert Bucellato (43), Charles Edward Kasper (63) and Russell Scott Williams (34), to nine years and nine months; six years and six months; and four years respectively for the crimes. Bucellato was fined 112,500 lempiras (US$ 7,760) and Kasper was fined 75,000 lempiras (US$ 5,175). Another American, Terry Grove Clymire, was absolved. In April 1999, on the basis of information provided by Casa Alianza, the Latin American branch of New York based Covenant House, the Honduran Criminal Investigative Unit and Casa Alianza´s Legal Aid Office staff investigated the "Tony Montana Night Club" which operated in San Pedro Sula - Honduras´ second largest city. Casa Alianza used hidden cameras to document the participation of underage girls as "exotic dancers" who were also offered to be sexually abused. In private rooms, the girls danced naked for less than US$ 5 per song. Above the night club was a hotel where the girls were taken to be sexually abused. In a late night raid on the illegal brothel on April 17th, 1999, the four Americans were arrested and several firearms seized. Bucellato from Portland, Oregon, acted as the club's administrator; Charles Kasper, from Tampa, Florida was the owner; Terry Grove Clymore, from California, and Russell Scott Williams, from Vermont, stated they were "just clients", however it was later proven that Williams was the hotel’s administrator. Also detained in the raid were 17 "dancers", including at least five minors from 14 years old, and 10 waiters. US extra-territorial laws passed in 1996 could lead to the Americans being tried in US Federal Courts and jailed for up to ten years and a US$ 250,000 fine. Bucellato has a criminal record in his home city of Portland, Oregon. Before living in San Pedro Sula he lived in Roatan, Honduras, where it was also stated that he sexually exploited young girls and, when he moved, he left many debts. Kasper has been jailed in Tampa, Florida in the past for the theft of vehicles. "The investigation and prosecution of these three Americans is part of Casa Alianza's ongoing efforts to protect Central America’s children from sexual abuse and sex tourists", commented Bruce Harris, the Executive Director for Latin American Programs for Casa Alianza, based in Costa Rica. "We will continue to cooperate with both the national and international authorities to trap any and all foreigners or nationals who abuse Central America’s children to make money without caring about the emotional and physical damage they cause". Casa Alianza has won convictions against American, Swiss, German, Chilean, Australian, Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican and Costa Rican nationals who have sexually exploited street children in Mexico and Central America. The child protection agency has more than 500 criminal cases pending in Central American courts against authorities and individuals who have violated the human rights of the region’s children. Casa Alianza also has five cases pending against the State of Guatemala, and four cases against the State of Honduras, in the Inter American Commission for Human Rights for violations of children’s rights by the State. In a historic move, Casa Alianza also won a ruling against the State of Guatemala by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, in Costa Rica, where Guatemala was condemned last month for the murder of five street children by the National Police in 1990. The defence lawyer for the condemned Americans in Honduras, Ruben Mateo Galan, stated that he will appeal the sentence. ======== END ======== For more information, please contact Casa Alianza’s Regional Office for Latin America at +506-253-5439. Visit the Casa Alianza web page at <www.casa-alianza.org> =========================== Publication credit: This article is published in its entirety by special permission of Mr. Bruce Harris, Executive Director of Casa Alianza. For additional information concerning this or other Casa Alianza activities, you may contact the organization's Latin American Regional Office at the above-listed address.
Send
mail to <the webmaster> with technical
questions or comments about this web site. |
||||||||||||
