SAN FRANCISCO, United States (CMC) — A United States national has been jailed for engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in Jamaica.

United States Attorney Alex G Tse said that Douglas Peacock was sentenced on Wednesday, by US District Judge Charles R Breyer, to 115 months in prison for travelling to Jamaica and engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Tse said the court imposed a sentence commensurate with the egregiousness of the crime committed, adding “this case demonstrates the borderless nature of crimes against children and this office’s dedication to prosecute those crimes, protect the community, and bring justice to child victims and their families”.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent in charge in northern California and northern Nevada, Ryan L Spradlin, said HSI has “one of the largest cadres of criminal investigators and allies globally that are highly trained and uniquely equipped to identify and arrest those who are involved in the exploitation of our most vulnerable citizens.

“Thanks to our work with our attaché in Jamaica, we were able to ensure this child molester was not only held accountable in a foreign country, but that he was prosecuted, will serve time, and be registered as a sex offender here in the US to help keep others safe from potential threat,” he said.

Tse said Peacock, 44, of Foster City, pleaded guilty to the charge on April 25, 2018.

In pleading guilty, he said Peacock admitted that he travelled from the United States to Jamaica on June 20, 2017, and, on the following day, engaged in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

Tse said, specifically, Peacock, while in the pool of a family friendly resort in Jamaica, molested a six-year-old US citizen.

He said a US federal grand jury indicted Peacock on November 2, 2017, charging him with one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Breyer also ordered Peacock to serve a 10-year period of supervised release, which will begin after his prison term is over, and to register as a sex offender, Tse said.

He said Peacock has been in federal custody since returning to the United States on November 10, 2017, and will begin serving his sentence immediately.