A powerful former North Dakota lawmaker has pleaded guilty to traveling to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor. Ray Holmberg was indicted in October 2023.

A powerful former North Dakota lawmaker pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge that he traveled to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor.

Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, admitted in court that he had paid young male masseuses, with some of whom he had sexual contact, during multiple visits to the Czech Republic, though he said he did not know for certain how old they were.

Holmberg was indicted in October 2023 for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and receipt and attempted receipt of child sexual abuse material. The Republican served more than 45 years in the North Dakota Senate before resigning in 2022.

  • oktoberpaard
    5·
    1 month ago

    In many countries the age of consent depends on the context. By the looks of it, the Czech Republic is one of those countries:

    The age of sexual consent in the Czech Republic is 15.

    Additionally, the section of the Czech penal code 40/2009 Sb. covering “crimes against family and children” contains § 202 which criminalizes a “seduction to sexual intercourse” of any persons under 18 years by any promise or provision of payment, benefit, privilege or profit, for sexual intercourse, masturbation, exposure or similar behavior.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe

    • LarmyOfLone@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 month ago

      Yeah the law is more concerned with abuse of power dynamic so relations between <18 year olds and teachers, doctors or otherwise parental guardians or tutorship or use of money or other “seductions” are illegal.