GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (Bennington Vale Evening Transcript) -- A U.S. citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to insulting Thailand’s monarchy, an offense that carries a criminal penalty of up to 15 years. The suspect has called on Washington to help release him, citing the need to support his freedom of expression. Similar to North Korea, the people of Thailand regard their ruler, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as practically divine. The country boasts one of the world’s toughest laws on lese-majeste, or insulting the monarchy. The man in question, whose name is being withheld from the press by request of the U.S. Department of State, was charged with using the Internet to disseminate inflammatory rhetoric, criticisms, and information that was deemed insulting and threatening to the monarchy. “I pled guilty because no one can win the case,” the man told reporters. “I have no chance. I want the American government to help release me. This is a case of freedom of expression.”