Alleged US sex tourist goes on trial

November 17, 2004

Los Angeles - An 86-year-old alleged American sex tourist was arrested as he headed to the Philippines, armed with chocolates and sex toys, to sleep with preteen girls, a court heard Tuesday. Retired John Seljan was brought into court in Los Angeles in a wheelchair at the start of his non-jury trial at which US immigration agents presented their evidence against the elderly suspect.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Shane Folden read from dozens of X-rated letters that Seljan allegedly wrote to girls aged between nine and 12, telling them to brace for sex when he arrived in the country.

The retiree was arrested at Los Angeles international airport as he prepared to fly to the Southeast Asian nation on October 3, 2003, prosecutors said.

Seljan was carrying 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of chocolates and other sweets with him when he was arrested, as well as pornography and sex aids, when he was arrested, officials said.

A cache of letters allegedly written to up to five young Filipina girls was found in briefcase belonging to Seljan, Folden told the court.

He allegedly wrote that he would bring "sexy toys," magazines and videotapes with him to help them learn about lovemaking.

"Just save all your loving for me," he wrote to a nine-year-old girl in a letter that he signed "Johnny."

In another letter, Seljan allegedly told another girl to "be ready for lovemaking" when he arrived in the Philippines.

"You'll be 12 years old on March 31, just at the right age for making love," he wrote to one girl, while he promised in others to send the youngsters "to heaven."

In another missive, he allegedly told two girls, who were aged nine and 12 that he planned to spend his first night in the Philippines with one of them and the second night with the other.

Seljan became the second American to be charged under the 2003 Protect Act that punishes those engaging in sex tourism abroad, said US Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.

Seljan is charged with one count of attempting to travel internationally with the intent of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with a minor.

He also faces two counts of using an interstate facility to entice two minors to engage in an illegal sex, two counts of producing child pornography depicting two minor females and two counts of possessing child pornography.

Defense lawyer Allan Stokke said many of the letters seized from Seljan were vague. "Those are vague words" to which one "has no idea what the meaning is," he said.

"The kind of sexual activity involved will become very important" such as "whether there was sexual intercourse or touching," he said.

Stokke told reporters outside the courtroom that the law under which the charges were brought "does not make (touching) illegal."

"What we're disputing is whether or not this classifies as a crime," Stokke said. "The charges may not fit with the evidence being presented by the government," he said.

Seljan came to the attention of authorities in November 2002 when a customs inspector searched a package sent by him that contained money and a letter to an eight-year-old girl.

The trial is expected to last about two days.

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