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Ex-US airman serving jail term for sexually molesting 2 orphan boys

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By Kim Hyun-bin

A former U.S. senior airman is currently serving a 15-year prison term for sexually molesting two Korean orphan boys while being stationed here about six years ago, and possessing dozens of child pornography videos, according to a U.S. military court.

Robert Keldgard, who was stationed at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, between 2012 and 2013, was convicted in April 2016 for the crimes, which Yonhap News confirmed and reported Monday.

In October 2014, Kelgard was under investigation for a separate incident during his deployment at Kadena Air Base in Japan. Investigators found 41 videos of child pornography downloaded to his computer.

After the findings, investigators expanded the scope to Kelgard's prior deployments including Kunsan Air Base, in cooperation with the Korean police. They then found out that Kelgard had "inappropriate sexual contact" with orphan boys at a childcare center where airmen in the Eighth Fighter Wing used to volunteer.

According to staffers of the center, Kelgard asked the center to allow him to take the children out of the center for one night in June 2013 before he left for Japan. It is alleged he had sexual contact with the boys that night.

Investigators found out he gave the boys money and gifts, including a smartphone, as hush money to keep his offense secret.

The young victims chose not to participate in the military trial, but a center worker's statement demanding justice for the victims became instrumental in sentencing, Col. John Bosone, the commander of the Eighth Fighter Wing, told Yonhap

Along with the 15-year jail term, the U.S. Air Force dishonorably discharged Keldgard.

Bosone said that after the incident, the Eighth Fighter Wing has been taking precautionary measures when allowing servicemen to volunteer outside of base, with more intensive background checks and mandatory chaperones that monitor interactions of individuals under the age of 18.

"We take all allegations concerning child sexual assault and child pornography very seriously and pledge to fully pursue all appropriate action," the commander was quoted as saying.




Kim Hyun-bin hyunbin@koreatimes.co.kr


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