American wanted for child abuse nabbed in Cebu

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is deporting an American wanted by United States federal authorities for sexually abusing a child in Mississippi more than six years ago.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said 33-year-old Charles Roy Atkinson will be deported following his arrest last April 27 in Talisay City, Cebu by a team from the bureau’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

Morente said the US embassy sought the bureau’s help in apprehending Atkinson who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Court of Harrison County, Mississipi on Jan. 24, 2013.

“His presence here poses a risk to children, anyone of whom could be his next victim,” Morente said.

FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said Atkinson had hidden in the Philippines since he

arrived on Jan. 22, 2013, the day before the Mississippi court issued the warrant for his arrest.

"He must have received information about it, so he fled to the Philippines to evade his arrest," said Raquepo.

Raquepo added that documents submitted to his office showed that the court ordered the forfeiture of Atkinson’s $10,000 bail after he failed to appear at the scheduled hearing of his case.

It was learned that Atkinson was charged with the crime of “exploitation of a child” which under Mississippi law carries a penalty of five years up to 40 years imprisonment and a fine of $50,000 to $500,000.

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.