Sexual Abuse of Haitian children by Priests, Charity Workers

[malaise]

Note that this was written in December 2009
http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/12/04/sexual_abuse_of_haiti_children_by_priests_charity_workers
<snip>
Ezili's HLLN is raising-public-awareness on two current cases - accused pedophiles, Douglas Perlitz from the United States and ex-priest John Duarte from Canada. (See also, Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J. Near The End Of The Line, Posted by Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit blog. ) We've also written to the United Nations about their soldiers' rape and sexual abuse of Haitian children and people since their landing in Haiti in 2004. (See, I am a the History of Rape: Letter to the UN asking for investigative reports on UN rapes in Haiti and UN Peacekeepers and Humanitarian Aid Workers raping, molesting and abusing Haitian children.)


http://www.margueritelaurent.com/law/abuse.html#perlitz1
<snip>
Pastoral minister indicted for sexually abusing Haitian boys
Caribbean320.com, Sept. 18, 2009


CONNECTICUT, United States, September 18, 2009 - An American man who once seemed like a saviour to some Haitian street children has been indicted in Connecticut for sexually abusing nine Haitian boys at a school he founded in that Caribbean country.

Douglas Perlitz, 39, a pastoral minister, volunteer and founder of the Project Pierre Toussaint school in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, was indicted by a federal grand jury with seven counts of traveling outside of the United States with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with individuals under the age of 18, and three counts of engaging in sexual conduct in foreign places with persons under the age of 18.

The indictment was unveiled yesterday by United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Nora Dannehy, and John Morton, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Perlitz was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his home in Eagle, Colorado on the day before.

"This defendant is alleged to have used his position of power to manipulate and sexually abuse vulnerable boys for nearly a decade," Dannehy said.

[Realityhack]

1. Ok I am confused....

This is horrible and I agree he should rot in jail (assumption of truth to charges) but...

"...and three counts of engaging in sexual conduct in foreign places with persons under the age of 18."
Is it actually legal in the US to pass a law regarding your conduct outside the US? Seems like a really REALLY bad idea.
Am I missing something?
Can anyone with a law background enlighten me?

[malaise]

2. I did wonder about a trial in the US

but I'm clueless on the legal issues.