Accused child molester a no-show for scheduled hearing
"Edmund Danielle Padilla was being sought on a warrant issued by Yuma County Superior Court for failure to appear. He had previously been charged with one count of child molestation and one count of indecent exposure to a minor but did not show up for a scheduled court hearing ."
U.S. Marshals Service arrests accused child molester from Yuma
BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
August 15, 2007 - 11:13PM
A man wanted in Yuma in connection to a 2005 child molestation that occurred here was arrested in Phoenix on Monday by the U.S. Marshals Service and other federal, state and city agencies.
Edmund Danielle Padilla was being sought on a warrant issued by Yuma County Superior Court for failure to appear. He had previously been charged with one count of child molestation and one count of indecent exposure to a minor but did not show up for a scheduled court hearing.
"It worked out real well," said Deputy Jennifer Wells, public information officer for the Marshals Service in Yuma. "We put a high priority on capturing fugitive sex offenders."
According to The Sun's archives, Padilla allegedly molested a 4-year-old girl in 2005 and DNA evidence had verified the allegations against him.
Padilla was arrested without incident at an apartment complex in west Phoenix, where he had been spotted following surveillance of the area.
On May 31, 2006, marshals in Yuma received a request from the Yuma County Probation Office for the location and apprehension of Padilla.
Wells said that during the course of the investigation, her agency located Padilla in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., where he was working in a dentist office.
She said Padilla fled, however, while marshals were in the process of trying to secure a provisional warrant from Mexican authorities so they could arrest him.
"During that time, he crossed back into the country illegally," Wells said. "As far as we know, he did not enter through a port because he
would have been arrested."
On Aug. 6, marshals in Phoenix received information from marshals in Yuma that Padilla may be in the Phoenix area.
As a result, the task force began conducting surveillance on the west Phoenix apartment complex and observed an individual matching his description entering an apartment.
Padilla was then arrested and booked into the Maricopa County jail on Aug. 13 and has since been returned to Yuma.
"He is here in our custody," said Capt. Eben Bratcher of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/yuma_35912_ ... shals.html
