US pedophile arrested in Florida for exploiting Pinay girls
A Florida court has arraigned a 64-year-old American for allegedly having sex with two Filipino minor girls while visiting the country in 2007 and 2008. Donald Mathias was arrested in Miami last week after authorities were tipped off by his previous sex-related travels to Leyte, the US Embassy relayed in a statement on Wednesday. Non-government organization PLAN Philippines forwarded the tip to US authorities with the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and through the coordination of Philippine authorities with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit at the US Embassy in Manila. The victimsâ mother was previously arrested in Tacloban City on Leyte Island last December after two of her daughters admitted to authorities that Mathias had abused them. The embassy statement said the ages of the victims ranged between 9 and 14. âThe victimsâ mother was charged with child abuse and trafficking in persons and is now being prosecuted in Tacloban City," the statement read. Citing a criminal complaint against Mathias, the embassy said the US citizen arranged the trips and meetings with the girls through their mother. Mathias reportedly met the girls through the Internet. âIf convicted, Mathias faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Charges in a complaint or indictment are merely accusations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," the statement added. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney raised concern about American pedophiles traveling to the country. âWhile it is disturbing that the Internet is used to organize such heinous crimes involving minor children, the excellent international cooperation between Philippine and US law enforcement made possible these two arrests and should serve as a warning," she said. - Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV