Leon Rouse
Cruise Ship Sex Offenders
Cruise Ship Passenger Sex Offenders
Cruise Ship Crewmember Sex Offenders
Around noon on the day of arrest, Leon Rouse arrived at Pichay Lodging House, where he saw Harty Dancel, a former acquaintance, accompanied by two individuals, Pedro Augustin and Godfrey Domingo. Dancel and Augustin were identified as police officers.
The four of them had lunch in a restaurant, then went back to Rouse's hotel room, number 205 at the Pichay Loding House. Rouse took a shower, Dancel and Augustin left the room, leaving him alone with Godfrey.
Domingo requested to use the bathroom, where he undressed. When there were knocks on the door, Rouse opened the door to waiting police. At that moment, neither Rouse nor Godfrey had clothes on.
Rouse was arrested, he and Godfrey were taken to the police station, where Godfrey Domingo signed a sworn statement, witnessed by his parents, and filed a complaint against Rouse. Godfrey stated he was fifteen years old and Rouse had prompted him into sexual acts. In subsequent interviews, the alleged victim told the same story to Assistant City Prosecutor Aurelio, to one Dr. Caday, and two social workers.
The crime report stated the following. October 4 , 1995, in the City of Laoag, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the herein accused did then and there, willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously by using his adult influence and promising to pay 200 pesos ($3.79 US), engage one Godfrey Domingo, a male child who is below 18 years of age, as in fact he is 15 years old, for lascivious acts. He was charged with fondling, performing oral copulation on the child and sodomizing the child.
Circumstantial evidence was admitted to the trial, which included: 1. A twenty-one year old witness had reported that he and Rouse had engaged in sexual activities the day before the arrest, and the Court found that, despite his age, "his physical appearance shows that he looks like a minor".
Rouse was convicted, and served 8 years in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
