David Barnes appears in a courtroom for sentencing, Feb. 13, 2024, in Moscow. (Anastasia Bagaeva/ABC News)(MOSCOW) On Tuesday David Barnes of Texas became the latest American to be convicted and sentenced in a Russian court on what experts say are trumped-up charges with little evidence.
Svetlana Koptyaeva, Barnes ex-wife and a Russian national, accused him of sexually abusing their two sons between 2014 and 2018.
Barnes denied the claims and Texas authorities found insufficient evidence to charge him.
In March 2019, Koptyaeva ran off with the boys, to Russia, and Barnes followed them there. He said he was trying to re-establish contact and get visitation rights through the Russian courts; however, Russian authorities arrested him and charged him with abusing the boys in Texas.
A Russian judge found Barnes guilty on Tuesday and sentenced him to 21 months in a penal colony.
Barnes sister Margaret Aaron spoke with ABC News "Start Here" Wednesday about the case an
A Russian judge convicted 66 year old David Barnes of abusing his two sons in the US; he was sentenced to 21 years in a high security Russian penal colony.
David Barnes appears in a courtroom for sentencing, Feb. 13, 2024, in Moscow. (Anastasia Bagaeva/ABC News)(MOSCOW) On Tuesday David Barnes of Texas became the latest American to be convicted and sentenced in a Russian court on what experts say are t.
American David Barnes conviction in Russia based on lies, sister says koka.am - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from koka.am Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.