MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport a 33-year-old American wanted by US federal authorities for sexually abusing a child in Mississippi in 2013.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Charles Roy Atkinson will be deported following his arrest by operatives of the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) last April 27 in Talisay City, Cebu.
He added that the US Embassy sought their help in locating and apprehending Atkinson, who is subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Court of Harrison County, Mississippi on Jan. 24, 2013.
“His presence here poses a risk to children, anyone of whom could be his next victim,” the BI chief said in a statement released on Thursday.
Atkinson will also be deported as an undocumented alien since American authorities have already cancelled his passport.
On the other hand, BI-FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said the American has been hiding in the Philippines since he last arrived on Jan. 22, 2013.
The BI official added that documents submitted to his office showed that the court ordered the forfeiture of the USD10,000 bail bond that Atkinson posted for his temporary liberty after he failed to appear at the scheduled hearing of his case.
It was learned that the foreigner was charged with the crime of “exploitation of a child”, which under Mississippi law carries a penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of USD50,000 to USD500,000.
Mississippi statutes describe exploitation of a child as causing, soliciting or knowingly permitting any child to engage in or simulate sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct by any means, including computer. (PNA)
