West Virginia man could face 30 years behind bars for ‘sex tourism’

A “intercourse tourism” cost might land a West Virginia man in federal jail for 30 years, authorities mentioned Monday.

Douglas Legislation, 60, admitted to breaking the regulation when he traveled abroad to have intercourse with an underage lady, pleading responsible to at least one depend of “intercourse tourism,” the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the Northern District of West Virginia introduced Monday.

Legislation had intercourse with a 14-year-old lady in a lodge room throughout a Could 2019 journey to the Philippines, in response to authorities.

He linked with the lady by means of social media from his Spelter, W.Va., house and despatched her cash in change for sexually specific movies and pictures, US Lawyer William Ihlenfeld mentioned.

Through the plea listening to, an agent testified that Legislation made at the least 10 journeys to the Philippines from 2014 to 2019.

Legislation mentioned in courtroom be believed the lady was 16, as a substitute of 14, however an agent testified a witness contradicted that declare, in response to WV Information.

Legislation might face as many as three a long time behind bars and a wonderful of as much as $250,000. Federal sentencing tips dictate the precise sentence will rely on the seriousness of the crime and any prior prison historical past, authorities mentioned.

The Facilities for Management Illness and Prevention states on its web site that intercourse tourism “is outlined as journey deliberate particularly for the aim of intercourse, usually to a rustic the place intercourse work is authorized.”

“Intercourse tourism helps human trafficking (slavery), one of many largest prison industries on the earth,” the CDC went on to state. “Even when prostitution is authorized in a rustic, human trafficking, intercourse with a minor, and baby pornography are ALWAYS crimes.”

The Division of Homeland Safety investigated the case.