Entsch praise for US evader

AN ELDERLY former fugitive who returned to the US after living for decades under a false identity in Julatten is due to face court for alleged former crimes.

Patton Eidson has been charged over a minor marijuana offence and passport fraud, having skipped the country with his family to escape drug conspiracy charges.

He served time in Australian prison after his true identity was revealed more than 30 years later, and had been locked in a long legal battle to remain in Australia.

Mr Eidson, who had been living under the name of Mike McGoldrick and ran a successful health retreat in the Tablelands before he was found out, agreed in August to return to the US to face the music.

He had been living under lock and key for several months at the Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre.

His court date in California is rapidly approaching, with his family hoping for a quick resolution despite the maximum sentence being seven years.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has written to the judge affirming Mr Eidson’s good character, and reiterating an extraordinary guarantee from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton that the former fugitive would be allowed back in Australia.

“Patton has contacted me through a third party,” Mr Entsch said.

“He’s in California and he is having to front the court.

“He was detained when he went over there and it took a while before they could get him out.”

Mr Eidson, who has suffered serious health issues in recent months, is now staying with family in California.

In his email to Mr Entsch, he said he intended to plead guilty for both the passport violation and minor marijuana charge from 1986.

He anticipated he could spend some time in either a federal hospital or prison.

Mr Entsch’s letter to the judge characterised Mr Eidson as “a highly respected and valuable member of our local community”.

He outlined Mr Dutton’s pledge to fast-track Mr Eidson’s return to Australia, waiving any usual waiting period, if he did not commit any further crimes in the intervening period.

“I will certainly continue to pursue this,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can get him back to his home in a few months.”

I WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET HIM BACK TO HIS HOME IN A FEW MONTHS LEICHHARDT MP WARREN ENTSCH