Published: June 22, 2010
Updated: 9:46 a.m.

Man wanted in attempted rape extradited from Mexico

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A man who allegedly fled the country after an attempted rape in Laguna Niguel more than six years ago was extradited back to the Orange County to face trial, federal officials said.

Daniel Morales, 38, allegedly fled to Mexicali, Mexico, after attempting to rape and sodomize a relative at her home and trying to rape a child who was also at the home, according to a statement released Monday by the FBI.

Morales was returned to Orange County on June 15 after a six-year hunt for him led multiple federal and local investigators to Mexicali, a city just a few miles across the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to a complaint filed in Orange County Superior Court, Morales broke into a relative's Laguna Niguel home on March 3, 2004. The Orange County District Attorney Office has charged Morales with attempted rape and sodomy of the adult victim and forcible lewd acts on a minor for the attack on the child victim, the FBI said.

Morales allegedly tried to assault the woman while she tried to run from him and call authorities, according to the FBI statement. Morales allegedly grabbed the phone and pulled it from the wall, before attempting to rape and sodomize her, the statement said.

The victim was then tied with bedding while Morales attempted to rape and sodomize a minor who was also at the home, according to the statement.
Morales was charged in U.S. District Court with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Department received information that Morales was living in Mexicali, Mexico.

According to the FBI statement, the Orange County District Attorney's office agreed to extradite Morales, and the U.S. Department of Justice issued a provisional arrest warrant that allowed Mexican officials, in conjunction with the FBI, to take Morales into custody.

Morales is currently in Men's Central Jail in Santa Ana. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on July 16.

Morales is one of two men who have been brought back from Mexico to face charges in the United States within the last two weeks.

On June 9, Eduard Gilbert Nevarez was deported to the United States after he was found by Mexican authorities to be living in Mexico. Nevarez was wanted by both Los Angeles and FBI officials for a double homicide that occurred in Lynwood in Feb. 2001, according to the FBI statement.

Contact the writer: shernandez@ocregister.com or 949-454-7361

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