The Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested an American sex convict wanted by authorities in Texas for a string of criminal cases.
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU) nabbed last week Steven Wayne Riley, 54, at his home in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Morente said he issued the mission order for Riley’s arrest at the request of the US embassy in Manila which sought the BI’s help in locating the fugitive so he could be deported to the US to stand trial for his crimes.
According to the BI chief, a district court in Denton, Texas issued an arrest warrant against Riley last Jan. 13 upon learning that he had jumped bail and fled the US. He was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 45-year-old woman.
Aside from being a sex offender, Morente revealed that Riley was indicted for causing bodily injury to a family member, larceny, violation of protective order by assaulting and stalking his former victim, disturbance of public peace, harassment and drunk driving.
“Undoubtedly, his presence here poses a risk to public safety. We should deport him immediately or he might prey on our women and children,” Morente said.
It was learned that being a registered sex offender in the US, Riley is required to periodically appear in person to local law enforcement authorities to enable them to keep track of his residence and activities .(Jun Ramirez)