Child abuse suspect who fled to Mexico, Canada back in Bend jail
A former Redmond man who cut off his GPS ankle monitor and fled just before his trial on child sex abuse charges escaped to Mexico, then to Canada, where he was arrested last fall and recently dropped his fight against extradition. He’s now back in the Deschutes County Jail, Redmond police said Wednesday.
Last October, Redmond police were contacted by the Canada Border Services Agency to inquire about the wanted status of Ezekiel Sandoval Garcia, 45, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.
An arrest warrant was issued for Sandoval Garcia in October 2017 after he cut off his GPS ankle monitor, Chambers said. Police believed he had fled the country to avoid trial on allegations of sexually abusing a minor.
Sandoval Garcia was arrested by Redmond detectives in March 2015 and indicted on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration.
A July 2015 indictment indicated the victim was a girl under the age of 12 and that the crimes occurred on or about March 5 of that year.
Since the fall of 2017, Redmond police had been working with the U.S. Marshals Service to find Sandoval Garcia in Mexico.
Redmond police also posted a mugshot and information to their Facebook page on Oct. 3, 2017, seeking information on Sandoval Garcia’s whereabouts and indicating they believed he was trying to flee to Michoacan, Mexico. He allegedly removed the ankle monitor the day before a four-day trial was scheduled to begin Oct. 3.
Chambers said information from the Canadian agency indicated Sandoval Garcia flew from Mexico to Vancouver, British Columbia, and entered Canada using a fake name and passport. CBSA investigators found his true name and wanted status in Oregon.
Sandoval Garcia was arrested by CBSA officials and was being held in custody pending his contested extradition hearing, most recently set for last month, Chambers said.
” For unknown reasons, ” Chambers said, Sandoval Garcia dropped his fight and agreed to be extradited to Oregon. He was booked into the Deschutes County Jail on June 7.
The county jail log Wednesday indicated he is being held without bail, but also lists $2 million bail on one of the sexual abuse charges. Online court records show a hearing is set for Friday afternoon, to set new trial dates.
” We are pleased Mr. Sandoval (Garcia) is back in jail, awaiting his day in court, ” Redmond Police Chief Dave Tarbet said.
” The charges against him are serious and have significantly impacted the minor involved, ” Tarbet said. ” I wish to thank the U.S. marshals office, the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. attorney’s office and the Canadian Border Services Agency for their hard work making sure Sandoval (Garcia) was returned to Oregon. ”
