Retired US Marine convicted of raping children in Cambodia

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — A federal jury has convicted a retired US Marine captain of travelling to Cambodia to have sex with underage girls after hearing testimony from his victims.

Michael Joseph Pepe, 54, of Oxnard, California faces up to 210 years in prison for the guilty verdicts on seven felony counts, the US Attorney's office in Los Angeles said in a statement on Thursday.

During the trial, six girls testified that Pepe drugged, bound, beat and raped them and a prostitute told the court on videotape about bringing him young victims, federal prosecutors said.

A total of seven girls, ages 9 to 12 at the time, were sexually abused by the former Marine captain, the statement said.

Prosecutors also provided evidence seized by Cambodian authorities...