Thread: Convict caught crossing border

Convict caught crossing border

By Ashley Meeks Sun-News reporter
Posted: 08/06/2009 12:00:00 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES A sex offender wanted in Colorado and ordered extradited from Las Cruces nine years ago was apprehended early Wednesday morning after illegally crossing the border, according to Border Patrol spokesman Douglas Mosier.

Jacinto Barron, 50, was convicted in 2001 of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl while in a position of trust, such as a babysitter or caretaker, according to Longmont, Colo. Police Commander Tim Lewis.

Lewis said he was "thrilled" by the news of Barron's capture.

"He went missing in 2006 and we have not had contact with him since then," Lewis said. "When you find someone like this that has been violating for so long the conditions of his parole and getting him in custody is a huge relief to me."

Barron was also convicted in 2002 for an attempted third-degree sexual assault, according to the Colorado Convicted Sex Offender site. He is wanted on two active warrants, a sexual assault in Boulder and a parole violation in connection with the 2001 conviction in Longmont, Mosier said.

Boulder police spokeswoman Sarah Huntley was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Barron had also been previously charged as a fugitive from justice in Las Cruces Magistrate Court in 2000 and ordered extradited to Colorado, according to court records.

He was captured at 2:18 a.m. Wednesday during a routine patrol near Sunland Park after he allegedly entered the United States without inspection. He is being detained at the Otero County Prison Facility until the Do-a Ana Sheriff's Office can arrange his extradition to Colorado, Mosier said.

While apprehensions in the El Paso Sector are down 53 percent from last year, according to a Border Patrol intelligence report released Wednesday, Mosier said a rising percentage of those captured have criminal backgrounds.

"Approximately 20 percent of all apprehensions in the El Paso Sector are those that have some sort of criminal records. We're talking more than just immigration (violations)," Mosier said. "We've captured a few murderers and people wanted for homicide."

Birth records show Barron was born in Lamesa, Texas, in between Odessa and Lubbock, but Barron told agents he had Mexican citizenship, Mosier said. The Border Patrol doesn't believe him to be connected to gang activity or crime in Mexico.

Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newmexico/ci_13001966

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