Pedophile in Cambodia linked to Oregon

During my visit to Cambodia in January 2006, I spend time in Sihanoukville, a beautiful resort town on the southern coast of Cambodia. The community is struggle with rapid intere st in tourism by international guest seeking a peaceful retreat to those specifically making the trip for the sex tourism industry. Walking around the town I was struck by the complexity of the community. I visited beautiful resorts, areas of prostitution and complete poverty in the local slums.

I met with amazing NGO's affiliated with Village Focus that are making a difference in the lives of the children in Sihanoukville and working hard to reshape the community.

NGO's in Sihanoukville that need support:
http://www.villagefocus.org/countries/cambodia_partners/protect.html

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The sex offender listed in the article below was operating right out Sihanoukville.

Sex offender booted from Cambodia headed for Oregon to be charged

By JOSEPH B. FRAZIER Associated Press Writer

(AP) - PORTLAND, Oregon-A convicted sex offender who fled Oregon to south Asia and was expelled from Cambodia this month will be headed home to face charges including sodomy and sex abuse.

Terry D. Smith, 54, and a girlfriend were arrested in September after police accused him of having sex with two girls, ages 13 and 14, in the bedroom of a bar, Tramp's Place, he owned in the Cambodian coastal town of Sihanoukville, and filming the acts.

He was arrested by Cambodian police Aug. 5 but was freed Aug. 31 and disappeared. He was arrested again in September outside the American Embassy when he tried to replace a passport police had confiscated earlier.

Beth Heckert, chief deputy district attorney for Oregon's Jackson County, said Monday he had not arrived yet but was expected.

John Shoemaker, who supervises criminal investigations for the U.S. Marshal's Service in Portland, said Smith apparently was in Los Angeles County, where he arrived from Cambodia, undergoing the extradition proceedings required to transfer him from California to Oregon.
Josephine County District Attorney Stephen Campbell said Smith was convicted there in April 1991 on 17 counts of exploiting children for sexual display and sentenced to 17 months in prison.
He then moved to neighboring Jackson County where he was ordered to report as a sex offender, but failed to do so and fled the country, initially to the Philippines.

Cambodian law provides sentences of up to 20 years for sex acts involving minors. Because of poverty and lax law enforcement, parts of the country have reputations as sex tourism destinations for pedophiles.

Police recently have stepped up efforts to end the crimes. Cambodian police seized 10 videotapes they say show Smith having sex with two underage girls.

The Washington, D.C.-based International Justice Mission, which seeks prosecution of people who sexually exploit others, had sent investigators to the bar in Sihanoukville, a town popular with pedophiles.

One German national, Alexander Watrin, 36, recently was sentenced to 10 years in a Cambodian jail for sexual abuse of young boys and two more German nationals are awaiting trial on charges involving young girls.