A producer from the controversial film the Sound of Freedom has now been accused of groping the breasts of a young trafficking victim, just days after Tim Ballard, the anti-trafficking activist whose life inspired the film, denied other allegations of misconduct.
Paul Hutchinson, who was among the earliest investors in the film, is said to have groped the young girl’s breasts during a 2016 undercover operation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Hutchinson runs his own charity – the Child Liberation Foundation – and is the co-founder of Bridge Investment Group, which he claims controls $40billion in funds.
Paul Hutchinson, who was among the earliest investors in the film, is said to have groped the young girl’s breasts during a 2016 undercover operation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Hutchinson with Tim Ballard, the man whose own story inspired the film
At the time, he was working with Ballard at Operation Underground Railroad (OUR).
According to documents obtained by VICE that were part of an investigation into OUR and Ballard, he felt the girl’s breasts while in Mexico on a human trafficking sting.
It’s unclear exactly what led up to it, but VICE claims it was video-recorded by OUR.
According to VICE, Hutchinson and others believed the girl was underage. He however maintains that he thought she was 18 and that he has a sworn affidavit from Mexican police stating that she is of age.
At the time, he and Ballard were activists with Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), working against modern day slavery and sex trafficking.
Now, both men stand accused of sexual misconduct against the women and girls they say they were trying to protect through the organization.
According to VICE, Hutchinson did not always follow ‘best practices’ while investigating human trafficking.
The outlet claims he posed sometimes as a sex tourist looking for young girls and asked for them to be ‘mas fresca’ than adults.
Ballard is played by Jim Caziel in the new hit movie about sex trafficking stings
Hutchinson insists he did nothing wrong. He and Ballard parted ways several years ago, before the film became a Hollywood hit.
Ballard has been rebuked by the Church of the Latter Day Saints since the film made headlines. Many now believe it wanted to distance itself from him because of the allegations against him.
He has been accused of exploiting seven women and taking advantage of a Mormon elder while working with OUR. He stepped down in light of the allegations, before they became public.
Hutchinson did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s inquiries.
In a statement denying the allegations against him, Ballard said: ‘As with all of the assaults on my character and integrity over many years, the latest tabloid-driven sexual allegations are false.
‘They are baseless inventions designed to destroy me and the movement we have built to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable children.’
Ballard, a former homeland security agent, has denied all of the allegations against him
