FORMER NEPAL ORPHANAGE DIRECTOR INDICTED FOR ILLICIT SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINOR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, June 16 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Criminal Division issued the following news release:

A federal grand jury in North Carolina returned an indictment today charging a North Carolina man with engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor outside the United States.

According to court documents, Michael Hess, 73, of Davidson, traveled to Nepal between March 2005 and July 2008 and engaged in illicit sexual conduct with a minor victim.Hess founded Papa's House, supported by the Nepal Orphans Home, in 2005.

Hess is charged with one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of...