Tampa Attorney Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges In Cambodia

TAMPA, FL — A 40-year-old Tampa attorney has been indicted after being accused of traveling to Cambodia and sexually abusing four children.

United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announced the indictment against Rugh James Cline Friday. He's charged with five counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of possessing child exploitation materials.

If convicted, Cline faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison for each count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct and up to 20 years in prison for possessing child pornography.

He is currently serving a prison sentence in Cambodia and will be deported to the United States after completing his sentence.

In November 2019, Cline was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in Cambodia for sexually abusing three girls.

According to the indictment, in February 2019 and May 2019, Cline, a Florida-licensed attorney, traveled to Cambodia where he paid to sexually abuse four minors. The indictment also accuses Cline of traveling to Cambodia while possessing materials depicting the sexual abuse of children.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the U.S. Department of State and the Cambodian National Police.