Crime & Safety

Peace Corps Volunteer Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Children

The Milford man reportedly sexually abused four girls while volunteering in South Africa.


A 32-year-old Milford man is facing almost that many years in prison after pleading guilty today to sexually abusing four girls while volunteering with the Peace Corps in South Africa.

According to the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Jesse Osmun waived his right to indictment in court today before Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford. Osmun is accused of traveling from the United States to South Africa to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children. He has admitted that he sexually abused four minor girls, all under the age of six, while he was a volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in South Africa, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

In announcing Osmun's guilty plea, David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, said, “This was a reprehensible crime, an extraordinary abuse of trust and an unconscionable violation of the Peace Corps mission. I commend Peace Corps OIG, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the South African Police Service for their prompt and thorough investigation of child sexual abuse. Their efforts undoubtedly protected children from future harm and removed a dangerous child predator from society.”

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“While serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in South Africa, Mr. Osmun committed horrific, unforgivable crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He was supposed to be helping young children in need, many of whom were orphans, but instead, he preyed upon them, sexually abusing several young girls under the age of six.  He betrayed the Peace Corps and the children he had traveled to South Africa to help. For his predatory conduct, he faces up to 30 years prison.”

“The crimes of this former volunteer are reprehensible, said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “The Peace Corps has no tolerance for abuse of any kind, and our deepest sympathies are with all the victims involved. I am thankful to the Peace Corps OIG, the Department of Justice, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the South African Police Service for conducting a well coordinated investigation that brought about swift justice in this case.  The Peace Corps is committed to ensuring that the children affected by these crimes receive proper care and treatment.”

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“This investigation represents the very essence of the determination of federal, state and local law enforcement authorities to capture and prosecute an individual whose primary objective was to sexually abuse vulnerable children,” said Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “I hope that this guilty plea sends a clear message that we will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who engage in this behavior to ensure that there is no place to hide here in the United States or anywhere in the world. I want to thank our partners at the U.S. attorney's office for their tireless efforts and collaboration in this investigation.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, Osmun was sworn in as a Peace Corps volunteer in March 2009 and began his service at a non-governmental organization (NGO) in South Africa that provides education, food and other services to children, many of whom are orphans.

In May 2011, Osmun resigned from the Peace Corps after being confronted by the program director of the NGO with allegations of sexual abuse. He returned to the United States on June 2, 2011. Shortly thereafter, Peace Corps OIG and ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents, working with members of the South African Police Services, began investigating the allegations of abuse.

The investigation revealed that, while volunteering at the NGO, Osmun enticed four young girls, all of whom were under the age of six, to engage in illicit sexual acts with him. Osmun persuaded the children to engage in this conduct by playing games with them and providing them with candy, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Osmun sexually abused one of the victims approximately two times a week over the course of approximately five months, Fein said.

On Aug. 4, 2011, Osmun was arrested at his home in Milford, Conn. He has been detained since his arrest.

Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for Sept. 19, 2012, at which time Osmun faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Fein noted that the government is seeking restitution from the defendant, and that the Department of Justice, the Peace Corps and the U.S. Embassy in South Africa are working together to ensure that a fund will be available to provide assistance to the victims in this case.

“Supporting victims of child exploitation is a priority for this United States Attorney’s Office and for the Department of Justice,” Fein said. “Our work does not end with the apprehension and conviction of those who sexually exploit children but extends appropriately to the welfare of the child victims.”


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