In courtroom paperwork filed in U.S. District Court docket in Greenbelt, federal prosecutors with the U.S. lawyer’s workplace in Maryland allege that Mara met the youngsters, two Burkinabe women ages 13 and 15, within the Ouagadougou neighborhood the place the couple had been positioned in the course of the spouse’s two-year project for the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth.
The women had been buddies with the American household who beforehand lived within the Maras’ embassy-assigned residence, and so they equally befriended Mara and his spouse quickly after their arrival in August 2022, courtroom paperwork say.
The women would later inform investigators that Mara started ceaselessly abusing them as early because the second time they met him, in keeping with courtroom filings within the case, sending the women sexually specific messages on telephones he purchased them and giving them cash or items.
Mara appeared Friday earlier than a decide in U.S. District Court docket in Maryland who dominated that he will probably be held with out bond as he awaits trial. The U.S. lawyer’s workplace in Maryland requested for Mara’s pretrial detention as a result of, prosecutors wrote, he’s a “critical threat of flight and hazard to the group” and there’s a “excessive probability he’ll try to impede justice.”
“The defendant’s crimes are as critical as any that may be alleged,” prosecutors wrote of their movement arguing for his detainment. “They stand out even within the context of kid exploitation offenses. Mr. Mara repeatedly forcibly raped two kids over the course of greater than a 12 months.”
An lawyer for Mara didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, nor did the U.S. State Division or USAID.
Mara is a U.S. citizen who beforehand lived in Takoma Park, Md., in keeping with the indictment. Federal prosecutors in the USA have jurisdiction over the case due to the placement of the alleged abuse. If convicted, Mara faces a compulsory minimal sentence of 30 years in jail however might go to jail for all times, prosecutors stated.
The alleged abuse came about from November 2022 by November 2023, prosecutors stated.
American authorities had been warned that Mara could be abusing the women in October 2023, in keeping with courtroom paperwork, when a guard assigned to the couple’s embassy residence advised investigators with the U.S. Embassy Regional Safety Workplace that he and the housekeeper had seen Mara convey the women to the house when Mara’s spouse was away. The women would keep inside with Mara, the guard stated, and typically go away wanting upset, and as if they’d modified garments or taken a bathe.
In a separate interview, in keeping with courtroom paperwork, the housekeeper advised authorities she had seen Mara touching one of many women and had seen him alone with them in bedrooms. On Oct. 25, 2023, the day earlier than Mara and his spouse left for an extended trip to Vietnam, safety guard logs for the Maras’ embassy residence confirmed that Mara and one of many women had been inside the home, alone, prosecutors allege in courtroom paperwork. The housekeeper stated her quarters had been disturbed and a condom was in the bathroom. The woman later advised authorities that Mara had assaulted her after saying, “I would like you earlier than I journey,” in keeping with courtroom filings.
When Mara returned from his Vietnam trip, investigators approached him on the U.S. Embassy, the place he agreed to be interviewed and consented to authorities looking out his private and work cellphones, in keeping with courtroom filings from prosecutors. Investigators discovered sexually specific WhatsApp messages with one of many women, in keeping with courtroom paperwork, and ultimately uncovered an web search historical past on Mara’s gadgets associated to sexually specific materials involving different women of their early teenagers.
Prosecutors allege that “instantly after” his interview with investigators, Mara requested the housekeeper to inform authorities she was having an affair with him; she stated she wouldn’t “lie” for him and reported the dialog to embassy safety. That very same day, in keeping with courtroom filings, Mara additionally introduced one of many women to his home whereas his spouse was away. He would later take away the cellphones he purchased for the women, prosecutors stated; these gadgets haven’t been discovered.
U.S. Legal professional Erek Barron stated in a press release that the case was investigated as a part of Venture Protected Childhood, a Justice Division initiative launched in 2006 meant to fight baby intercourse abuse and exploitation by partnerships amongst native, state and federal legislation enforcement. Businesses concerned within the case included the Diplomatic Safety Service’s workplace of particular investigations; USAID’s workplace of inspector basic; and Homeland Safety Investigations.
