An American language teacher and well-known TikTok personality has been arrested for alleged involvement with a 16-year-old girl in Bangkok. Luke Nathanael Rockwell, 28, was apprehended by law enforcement late Sunday morning.
The charges against Rockwell include the accusation of taking a minor over 15 but not over 18 away from her parents for indecent purposes, as outlined in If convicted, he could potentially face a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars and fines.
The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest, and Rockwell, to the surprise of many, admitted to the allegations against him, which encompass having sexual relations with a minor and even filming the encounters.
This distressing incident came to light when Rockwell, a popular figure on TikTok, was accused of engaging in sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl. According to the girl’s mother, Rockwell came into contact with her daughter approximately five months ago through social media and subsequently coerced her into a sexual relationship.
The concerned mother reported that her daughter had met with Rockwell for sexual encounters multiple times, leading to medical complications for the girl. She promptly filed a report to a local police station. Additionally, it was revealed that Rockwell had recorded video clips of these encounters, which prompted the initiation of a police investigation.
It’s important to note that the age of consent in Thailand is 15, as stipulated in Article 279 of the Criminal Code. However, when a sexual encounter involves a teenager aged 15-18 outside their home, it requires parental consent.
Rockwell has garnered a substantial following on TikTok, boasting over a million followers. His content has sparked controversy in the past, with some videos touching on sensitive racial topics, presented under the guise of education. In 2021, a hashtag campaign called #CancelTeacherLuke circulated due to videos that were widely criticized as offensive.
