A 69-year-old Australian man has been extradited from Australia to the United States to face sentencing for child sexual abuse offences, after he fled the country following his conviction.
Flight from Justice and Arrest
John Michael Kaleel was convicted by a Los Angeles jury on October 8 last year for committing lewd acts upon a long-time student. The crimes occurred between 2011 and 2013, beginning when the victim was just 13 years old. In a brazen attempt to evade justice, Kaleel fled to Australia on the very day of his conviction, just before the guilty verdict was formally delivered.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, he "attempted to escape justice" by "fleeing to Australia during jury deliberations." His freedom was short-lived, as he was arrested in Australia weeks later. He was finally taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport upon his arrival last Thursday, completing the extradition process.
Disturbing Details of the Abuse
Court documents reveal a pattern of predatory behaviour by Kaleel, who worked as a piano teacher in West Hollywood. The abuse was first reported by the victim in 2015. The Los Angeles Times reports that the offences included Kaleel asking to take measurements of the victim's penis when he was 12 years old.
Later, he convinced the boy to masturbate with him over FaceTime. Prosecutors further alleged that in September 2013, when the victim was 15, Kaleel invited him over to smoke marijuana and engaged in oral sex with him.
Kaleel's clientele included the children of celebrities, such as the kids of creators behind popular TV series Orange Is the New Black and Mad Men. His teaching career and his permanent resident status in the U.S. were put in jeopardy back in 2016 when he initially pleaded no contest to the charges. He later fought to have that plea overturned after realising a conviction would lead to his deportation.
Sentencing and Official Statements
Kaleel now awaits his sentencing in Los Angeles, where he is facing 10 years and eight months in state prison. "Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date," confirmed the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman delivered a stern message: "He has now learned the hard way that you can run but you cannot hide, a lesson he can contemplate while hopefully serving years in state prison." He added, "Our hearts remain with the victim who endured years of abuse by someone he trusted."
