Sound of Freedom executive producer Paul Hutchinson is accused of groping a human trafficking victim’s breasts during a Mexican sting operation – days after the film’s hero Tim Ballard denied allegations of sexual misconduct
- Hutchinson allegedly groped the girl in Cabo San Lucas in 2016
- VICE reports that he and others believed she was 16 years old; He says he thought she was 18
- Tim Ballard, who inspired the film, has also been accused of misconduct
- He denies the claims and says they are tearing his family apart
A producer of the controversial film “The Sound of Freedom” has now been accused of groping the breasts of a young human trafficking victim, just days after Tim Ballard, the anti-human trafficking activist whose life inspired the film, denied other allegations of misconduct .
Paul Hutchinson, one of the film’s early investors, allegedly groped the young girl’s breasts during an undercover operation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2016.
Hutchinson runs his own charity – the Child Liberation Foundation – and is a co-founder of Bridge Investment Group, which he says controls $40 billion in funds.
Paul Hutchinson, one of the film’s early investors, allegedly groped the young girl’s breasts during an undercover operation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2016
Hutchinson with Tim Ballard, the man whose own story inspired the film
At this time he was working with Ballard on 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 when he was stung on human trafficking charges in Mexico.
It’s unclear what exactly led to this, but VICE claims it was caught on video by OUR.
According to VICE, Hutchinson and others believed the girl was underage. However, he claims that he thought she was 18 and that he has an affidavit from the Mexican police stating that she is of legal age.
At the time, he and Ballard were activists with Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), which campaigned against modern slavery and sex trafficking.
Now both men are accused of sexual misconduct against the women and girls they allegedly sought to protect through the organization.
According to VICE, Hutchinson did not always follow “best practices” when investigating human trafficking.
The medium claims he sometimes posed as a sex tourist looking for young girls and asked that they be “mas fresca” as adults.
Ballard is played by Jim Caziel in the new hit film about the crimes of sex trafficking
Hutchinson insists he did nothing wrong. He and Ballard separated several years ago before the film became a Hollywood hit.
Ballard has been rebuked by the Latter-day Saint Church since the film made headlines. Many now believe that people wanted to distance themselves from him because of the allegations against him.
He was accused of exploiting seven women and taking advantage of a Mormon elder while working for OUR. He resigned in light of the allegations before they became public.
Hutchinson did not immediately respond to ‘s inquiries.
Ballard, a former Department of Homeland Security official, has denied all allegations made against him