

A Minnesota man who worked at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, was indicted today in the District of Minnesota on charges of sexual abuse, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.



Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota, Executive Assistant Director John F. Wagner of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) Pacific Operations and Special Agent in Charge J. Chris Warrener of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office made the announcement.



According to the indictment, Ricky Isiah Sherwood, 18, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, an employee on Kadena Air Force Base and a dependent of a military member, sexually assaulted a minor on the base on or about Feb. 11, 2014, and filmed parts of the assault using his cellular phone.



The Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act gives U.S. federal courts jurisdiction over felonies committed abroad by certain persons employed by or accompanying the U.S. Military.



On May 7, 2014, Sherwood was arrested on a complaint at Kadena Air Force Base and made an initial appearance via telephone before Magistrate Judge Tony Leung in the District of Minnesota. The court ordered that Sherwood be detained and removed from Japan to the United States.



This case is being investigated by the NCIS and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ann Marie Ursini of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Buzicky of the District of Minnesota.



The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.