A 20-year-old Oregon student who was acquitted of reportedly damaging and stealing items at a dental practice in South Korea remains trapped in the country, according to a story recently published on KOIN.
Despite the acquittal, the prosecution appealed, barring the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) engineering student from leaving South Korea. The name of the student has not been released.
On June 22, the student, who has autism and a history of epileptic seizures, blacked out when he caused damage at the dental office, the student's mother, Iris Cox, told KOIN.
Security camera footage showed the student opening packages, taking small items, and bending a pair of glasses inside the dentist’s office. His mother estimated the damage to be about $170.
After the student was arrested, he spent about 40 days in jail. Most of that time was spent in solitary confinement, according to the story.
The student’s father posted his bail, and now the father and son are living in South Korea awaiting resolution of the matter. The family is eager to have the student home so he can get proper care.
The 20-year-old went to South Korea to attend Jeonbuk National University. The student did not attend through an official Oregon Tech exchange program, according to the story.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
