Singaporean provocateur-in-exile Amos Yee has pleaded not guilty to child porn and sexual grooming charges in the United States.
The 21-year-old suspect, who courted controversy in Singapore before relocating to Chicago three years ago, entered the plea remotely yesterday, weeks after he was indicted for allegedly exchanging nude photos and text messages with a 14-year-old girl in Texas. Yee, who became a vocal pro-pedophilia activist after finding refuge in the United States, was also charged with solicitation and possession of child pornography.
His next court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18. If convicted, he faces deportation.
Yee sought asylum abroad after several run-ins with the law at home, where he made international headlines at just 16 when he was jailed for celebrating the death of founding father Lee Kuan Yew in 2015. He was put behind bars again the following year for comments deemed offensive to Christians and Muslims. He then fled Singapore and was granted political asylum in the United States.
While living there, Yee began to voice strong support for pedophiles on his YouTube channel before it was taken down. He also ran a pro-pedophile online forum, according to prosecutors last month, and had defended himself on YouTube against rumors about his relationship with the teenager, arguing that “even if he did sexually abuse a 14-year-old, it does not change that there is nothing immoral about pedophilia.”
His alleged wrongdoing with the girl occurred over a period of several months last year. Yee allegedly asked for nude photos and also sent nudes of himself to the minor over WhatsApp.
Prosecutors said the girl had subsequently reached out to a group called “interested in exposing pedophiles,” leading to Yee coming to the attention of investigators.
He has previously been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
Other stories:
Amos Yee suspected to be recruiting fellow pro-pedophiles on Twitter again with 50 throwaway accounts
Activist who helped Amos Yee get political asylum in US sorry for how he turned out; wants him deported now
Twitter suspends Amos Yee’s account after his disturbing pro-pedophilia tweets get reported
Reader Interactions