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A federal grand jury indicted a 76-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl he “adopted” in Thailand.
The grand jury Thursday indicted George A. Theros, a part-time Maui resident, charging him with “illicit sexual conduct” involving the teen. Court documents said he paid the girl’s family to “adopt” her approximately five years ago.
A detention hearing was held earlier in the week where U.S. Magistrate Judge Rom Trader granted the government’s motion to detain Theros without bond after the government argued he’s a flight risk, poses a danger to the community, specifically young girls, and is prone to tampering with witnesses.
Theros returned to Hawaii from Thailand on July 24 and was arrested for the alleged crimes against the girl.
The girl initially met Theros in Thailand when she was 9 years old in 2014. He eventually met her parents and paid them an undisclosed amount of money to “adopt” her.
The girl moved in with him at his home in Thailand. Court documents allege Theros forced her to have sex and that he sexually and physically abused her when she refused to do things she did not want to do.
Theros left Thailand and traveled with the girl to Panama where he got a job as a crew member aboard a boat. Theros described the girl as his daughter to other crew members.
The government claimed he planned to travel to Hawaii with the girl.
In June a crew member allegedly saw Theros engage in sexual activity with the girl on the boat. The crew member reported the incident to the boat captain, who then contacted authorities.
Law enforcement took the girl into protective custody.
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