U.S. Doctor Held in Cambodia on Sex Charge
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SYRACUSE, New York -- A New York doctor who traveled to Cambodia to volunteer at a children's hospital is being held in a Phnom Penh prison on a charge he had sex with a 14-year-old boy.
The Post-Standard reports Sunday that Dr. James D'Agostino was arrested Feb. 16 and charged in the Phnom Penh municipal court with purchasing child prostitution.
A judge says the 56-year-old D'Agostino could be held up to six months while the court reviews the case before deciding if it goes to trial.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}If convicted, D'Agostino could face seven to 15 years in prison under Cambodian law.
Pek Vannak, a lawyer representing D'Agostino, says the doctor denies the charges.
D'Agostino is a pediatric emergency doctor at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. He went to Cambodia in January 2009.