Amos Yee Pleaded Guilty & Sentenced to 6 Years’ Jail in the US

*shakes head* Amos, Amos, Amos. 

To say that things have gone downhill for the Singaporean blogger ever since he publicly criticised Mr Lee Kuan Yew would be an understatement.

While some initially defended his provocative comments, arguing he was merely exercising free speech, Yee had surely lost all support when news emerged that he had been indicted on child pornography charges in the US, where he was granted asylum.

The blogger initially denied the charges, but the courts clearly disagree.

Amos Yee Pleaded Guilty & Sentenced to 6 Years’ Jail in the US

Yesterday (2 Dec), the now 23-year-old was sentenced by a Chicago court to six years’ imprisonment.

As previously mentioned, Yee initially denied the charges, but later decided to plead guilty after he was offered a plea deal.

Besides the two charges of child pornography and grooming of which he was convicted, Yee had faced 16 other child pornography-related charges that were dismissed as part of the deal.

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What Happened

Yee was charged with child pornography and grooming after he allegedly exchanged nude photos and “thousands” of messages with a 14-year-old girl while living in Chicago back in 2019.

They met in February that year over the Riot chat app.

Not only did he send her nude photos, Yee also asked for nude photos of the girl over Whatsapp, and got them. He also persuaded the victim to appear on video and other mediums, which is why he was handed a charge of child pornography.

As Assistant State’s Attorney Marcell Taylor described in court: “This defendant repeatedly requested that the victim provide him with photos showing her bare breasts, her naked buttocks, as well as engaged in role play and sexual fantasies.”

“On several occasions, this offender did, in fact, request that (she) the defendant engage in those roleplay and sexual fantasies by saying, ‘Show me your naked body, I want to see your breasts,’ as well as several questions of that nature,” he added.

And Yee couldn’t claim to have been unaware of the victim’s age, as she repeatedly brought it up during the conversation. Yee was 20 at the time.

As part of his conviction, Yee was ordered not to contact the victim for two years after his release from jail.

Deported?

Under Illinois law, the charge of child pornography is a class one felony and second-most serious type of offence. Those convicted can be jailed between four to 15 years.

The judge reminded Yee that by pleading guilty, he could be subject to deportation, denied admission to the US, or denied naturalisation as a US citizen in the future.

Uh, we don’t want him. Can you keep him?

She added that it could impair his ability to get housing, employment, and licences.

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Featured Image: Cook County Sheriff’s Office