THE RETRIAL OF

MICHAEL PEPE

In 2008

Michael Pepe was convicted of seven felony counts for traveling to Cambodia to engage in illicit sexual conduct with minors between 2004 and 2006. He was sentenced to 210 years in prison. During the trial, six brave little girls, including Reaksmey, testified against Pepe, which played a significant part in putting him behind bars.

BUT in 2018

Pepe’s defense went to The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and requested that they reverse the conviction, based on a single phrase.

Pepe was originally convicted under the PROTECT Act of 2003, but in 2013, this Act was amended.

This amendment accounted for a loophole that had been taken advantage of by those who claimed foreign residence. Because Pepe was tried before the amendment, his defense took the opportunity to exploit the law in his favor. They claimed that since the original law did not include “residents of foreign countries”, Michael Pepe was outside of the law, claiming Cambodia as his permanent home at the time of the abuse.

They were granted a retrial. Reaksmey and the others that had been abused by Pepe as children were given the opportunity to testify again. Reaksmey chose to testify.

THE RESULT…

The retrial was set for March of 2020, and Reaksmey was in California, ready to testify. But due to the pandemic, it was delayed. So Reaksmey went back to Cambodia to help with the pandemic while waiting for it to be rescheduled.

After over a year, the retrial finally began on August 3rd, 2021.

Reaksmey flew out from Cambodia to testify, along with seven other women. They explained the horrors that they underwent.

Reaksmey shared with us how incredibly emotional and difficult it was to face him in court, while he stared angrily at her as she testified. But she bravely made it through, along with the other women who he had abused as children.

On the morning of Thursday, August 12th, the jury agreed: Michael Pepe was traveling to Cambodia with the full intention of abusing and exploiting young girls. He will remain in prison.

His new sentencing has been scheduled for December of 2021, at which time he will face a life sentence.

As for Reaksmey…

It has been a long journey. One that is not shy of ups and downs. She is relieved with the results of the retrial and is continuing to gain more closure from the traumas from her past. Knowing that Pepe will never get out of prison and have the opportunity to abuse another child was a driving force in Reaksmey testifying at the retrial.

She continues to live in Cambodia with her husband Samuel, working tirelessly and passionately with the abused and vulnerable to this day.

Reaksmey is an inspiration to all and we are so humbled and honored to be able to share her incredible story… a story that is far from over!

If you would like to financially support her, visit WWW.HAASMISSION.COM