Officials: Man Charged With Child Rape Found In Costa Rica
UPPER DUBLIN, Pa., (CBS) – Officials say a man charged with rape of a child three years ago in Montgomery County was found and apprehended in Costa Rica.
In September 2010, Harold Eugene Smith was charged by the Upper Dublin Police Department with Rape of a Child and related offenses for allegedly sexually abusing a minor female between 2007-2010.
Smith failed to appear for a scheduled pre-trial conference in January 2011, and a bench warrant was issued. After an extensive investigation, authorities were unable to uncover Smith's whereabouts.
In October 2012, Montgomery County authorities received a tip from an American citizen living in Panama who reported that he located a person he believed to be Smith. The tipster came across Smith while he was prospecting for gold in a jungle-like area, and confirmed Smith's identity on the Montgomery County's Most Wanted website.
By the time authorities responded to the location, Smith had left.
A federal arrest warrant was then issued for Smith in October 2012, and he was charged with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.
Authorities then learned that Smith had crossed the border into Costa Rica. He was arrested by the Costa Rican authorities on June 2, 2013. Smith was expelled from Costa Rica and deported to Miami, Florida.
On Thursday, Montgomery County law enforcement officials took custody of Smith in Miami and returned him to Pennsylvania.
Smith's bail was revoked on Friday and he sent to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility to await trial.
