Colombian authorities arrested a 36-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas on Sunday, accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old boy in Bogota. The alleged assault occurred on a balcony in broad daylight within an upscale northern neighborhood of the capital, witnessed by passersby who shouted at the man to stop.
Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan confirmed the arrest, stating there is "no room for mistreatment or abuse of boys and girls." When police entered the suspect's apartment, they found three children, who were subsequently taken to a medical center for evaluation. Colombia's child protection agency now has custody of the three minors. Investigators are looking into whether the children were adopted by the suspect.
The suspect arrived in Colombia on a flight on June 6. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the suspect's residence demanding justice. President Gustavo Petro responded to the outrage by calling for visa requirements to prevent pedophiles from entering the country. Authorities report they have turned away roughly 100 foreigners traveling for sex tourism in the first half of 2026 alone.