American Arrested In Thailand For Sex Crimes, Update

[sriracha john]

UPDATE of thread: Pueblo Man Arrested In Thailand For Sex Crimes with additional information and a change in plans for the convict...

Sex offender flees prison sentence, surfaces in Thailand after 15 years

A man convicted of child sex crimes in Pueblo County 15 years ago but fled before incarceration was recently apprehended in Bangkok, Thailand, according to the district attorney.

In late October, Alan M. Maxfield, 59, tried applying or renewing his visa or passport at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, District Attorney Bill Thiebaut said Tuesday.

Maxfield was later arrested at the embassy when a background check showed he was wanted by the FBI for unlawful flight to avoid incarceration.

According to court records, Maxfield was convicted in March 1991 for sexual assault on a child in a position of trust and aggravated incest. At the time he was free on a $10,000 bond. Later in the year he was sentenced to two consecutive four-year prison terms.

He fled before being imprisoned, and a bench warrant was issued for Maxfield in December 1992.

Thiebaut said it's unknown how long Maxfield was in Thailand. Court records show Maxfield's last American address listed in Colorado Springs. The Pueblo Chieftain archives show Maxfield was married here in 1981 but divorced in January 1992.

"Ironically, (Maxfield) could've already served and been out," Thiebaut said. "It seems that a lot of these types of individuals (child molesters) end up in Thailand. If you've ever read any of the reports coming out of there, that's some kind of mecca."

Maxfield consented to be extradited to the U.S., Thiebaut said. On Friday Maxfield will arrive in New York, where he'll remain until the district attorney's office can bring him here. Thiebaut said he did not know when that would be.

"You're dealing with paperwork, custody issues, and when he's there (in New York) he falls under different guidelines of the port authority. As long as he's in custody in New York, and once we have the paperwork to bring him back to Pueblo, we'll bring him back expeditiously."

It's unknown whether charges of unlawful flight will be sought against Maxfield. Thiebaut said that's decided at the federal level.

"Primarily, we want to make sure the sentence is imposed," Thiebaut said, who added this is his first international case during his term as district attorney.

Maxfield is currently under the jurisdiction of the FBI, which also is paying for extradition.

"The FBI took charge of the process," Thiebaut said. "The FBI was able to access money through some program we weren't able to access."

Thiebaut didn't have "concrete" information whether Maxfield's victims had been notified of the arrest. "We comply with the victim's right's laws with the mandate of the state. Whenever it's appropriate to notify victim's we'll do that."

- Pueblo Chieftain

=============================================================

and now... the convict is reconsidering:

Colorado Sex Offender May Fight Extradition From Thailand

PUEBLO, Colorado, USA -- Pueblo County authorities said a man convicted 15 years ago for sex crimes who fled before he was sent to prison has been arrested in Thailand. But Alan M. Maxfield may fight extradition to Colorado.

District Attorney Bill Thiebaut said that Maxfield, 59, was arrested at the United States Embassy in Bangkok in late October while he was trying to renew his traveling papers. He agreed to be sent back to the United States, but Thiebaut said he is now expected to fight extradition to Colorado.

Maxfield is currently under the jurisdiction of the FBI, which also is paying for the extradition.

"The FBI took charge of the process," Thiebaut said. "The FBI was able to access money through some program we weren't able to access."

Maxfield was convicted in March 1991 on charges of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and aggravated incest. He was later sentenced to two back-to-back four-year prison terms, but he fled while free on $10,000 bond.

"Ironically, (Maxfield) could've already served and been out," Thiebaut told the Pueblo Chieftain. "It seems that a lot of these types of individuals end up in Thailand. If you've ever read any of the reports coming out of there, that's some kind of Mecca."

- The Denver Channel

[farang prince]

More good publicity for Thailand.

[Cpt_M0ney_Sh0t]

More good publicity for Thailand.

Tell me about it, if only it would weaken the price of the Baht.

[ourmanflint]

Why do these high profile cases always seem to be from the USA and on the run for something else?

Surely they would have known when he entered another country, aren't those things reported?

[PeaceBlondie]

Maybe the USA is the biggest country in the West, and it got attacked on 9/11/2001, and has spent billions upgrading all its security. Now, when a US citizen who's in Thailand, checks in at the embassy or consulate general offices for the simplest thing, they are often asked first for their passport. Minutes later, (after it's been checked for whatever they wish to check their computers for), the passport is returned. They didn't do this a couple of years ago.

[britmaveric]

Wonder if the lad will be flying Business Class on Thai Air??

[ourmanflint]

Maybe the USA is the biggest country in the West, and it got attacked on 9/11/2001, and has spent billions upgrading all its security. Now, when a US citizen who's in Thailand, checks in at the embassy or consulate general offices for the simplest thing, they are often asked first for their passport. Minutes later, (after it's been checked for whatever they wish to check their computers for), the passport is returned. They didn't do this a couple of years ago.

Hmm. but surely before 9/11, there was a world before then !... if a USA citizen was on the run, there would be some sort of international warrant out for this guy, and when he entered Thailand on his passport, the Thai authorities would have logged his entry into the kingdom. Does it stop there? Or do countries regularly inform other states who as to who is there or not. I always thought they did, as well as airlines reporting their passenger lists routinely.

[roguegirl]

What an attraction Thailand has!

[Thaising]

Wonder if the lad will be flying Business Class on Thai Air??

He will have the same privilege like John Mark Carr.

[goldenmile]

keep an eye out for anyone who has suddenly stopped posting

[lamphun]

keep an eye out for anyone who has suddenly stopped posting

[sriracha john]

Wednesday January 22, 1992

VITAL STATISTICS

Marriage dissolutions:

Cheryl A. and Alan M. Maxfield. Married 1981 in Pueblo. Two children to mother.

- Pueblo Chieftain

[farang prince]

Maybe the USA is the biggest country in the West, and it got attacked on 9/11/2001, and has spent billions upgrading all its security. Now, when a US citizen who's in Thailand, checks in at the embassy or consulate general offices for the simplest thing, they are often asked first for their passport. Minutes later, (after it's been checked for whatever they wish to check their computers for), the passport is returned. They didn't do this a couple of years ago.

I have the same question PB. Why didn't the U.S. authorities pick this up before now? I am going to check on the procedures Thai Immigration have in place when a foreigner enters the country. If they are not hooked up to the United States' National Crime Information Center, then they should be. At the least, every American coming into Thailand should be vetted through the U.S. Embassy's files.

[Jai Dee]

In accordance with ThaiVisa Admin policy of not allowing discussion on topics of this nature, this subject is now closed.

/Closed.

[Jai Dee]

UPDATE... he's gone from Thailand

Convicted Sex Offender Could Fight Extradition

Pueblo, Colorado, USA -- A man convicted of sexual assault on a child 15 years ago may fight his return to Colorado. Alan Maxfield was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand last month when he tried to renew his travel documents. Maxfield was convicted in Pueblo County in March 1991 for sexual assault on a child in a position of trust, and aggravated incest. He was free on bond and was later sentenced to eight years in prison, but he fled before he could be jailed. Pueblo County District Attorney Bill Thiebaut said yesterday that Maxfield is currently being detained in New York City, where "my understanding is he is going to contest extradition" to Pueblo.

- KDRO TV News, Pueblo

Thanks to SJ for providing the update.