Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A wealthy Russian-born entrepreneur can await trial on international child-sex charges while under house arrest and electronic monitoring, a federal magistrate ruled Wednesday.

Prosecutors had contended that Andrew Mogilyansky, 38, of Richboro, has the means to flee, including money and property abroad. They immediately appealed the judge's decision.

Mogilyansky, who has dual Russian and American citizenship, was charged last week with traveling to orphanages in his native country to molest young girls, then recruiting them into a Moscow online child prostitution business that he allegedly helped run.

Defense attorney George Newman said his client had pledged all his assets as security for his release. He also noted that Mogilyansky, who is married with three children, had known about the U.S. investigation for years but had not fled.

Mogilyansky had already posted $50,000 bail and surrendered both passports, and 12 people had pledged their homes as collateral, Newman said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Morgan-Kelly said the money posted by Mogilyansky was "a mere pittance to this defendant." Mogilyansky, who owns several businesses, estimated his personal fortune at $5.3 million in 2006.

U.S. Magistrate Carol Sandra Moore Wells ruled that Mogilyansky must post another $50,000 cash bail to be released under house arrest, with electronic and computer monitoring and other restrictions. She stayed her ruling pending prosecutors' appeal.

"I will never do anything to make you doubt your decision," Mogilyansky told Wells.

Wells said she decided to release Mogilyansky because the alleged crimes took place five years ago and there was no recent evidence to indicate Mogilyansky would endanger the community.

Two men and two women have already been convicted in Russia in connection with the Moscow prostitution business.