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Scranton, PA – U.S. Marshal Michael R.
Regan announced today the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Gilbert
Santiago-Hernandez in Juncos, Puerto Rico.
Santiago-Hernandez was being sought on a bench warrant issued March 5, 2009
by Monroe County Court of Common Pleas Judge Margherita P. Worthington. The
warrant, held by the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, charged
Santiago-Hernandez with Failure to Appear for a hearing on February 26, 2009
in the Monroe County Courthouse.
In mid-September 2008, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department
investigated the birth of a child by a minor female. It was determined the
female was 14 years old when the child was conceived. The father of the
child was identified as Santiago-Hernandez, and it was determined he was 19
years old at the time. Subsequent investigation revealed Santiago-Hernandez
had been having relations since May / June 2006 with the minor female, when
she would have been 12 years old.
On September 23, 2008, an arrest warrant was signed by Magisterial District
Judge Anthony D. Fluegel in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. Based upon the
allegations that Santiago-Hernandez engaged in sexual intercourse with the
victim who was under the age of 16, that Santiago-Hernandez was four or more
years older than the victim, and that Santiago-Hernandez and the victim were
not married, an arrest warrant was issued, charging the following offenses:
1 count of Statutory Sexual Assault
4 counts of Indecent Assault
1 count of Luring a Child into a Motor Vehicle / Structure
1 count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
On September 23, 2008, Santiago-Hernandez was
arrested on these charges, and was lodged in the Monroe County Prison. On
February 5, 2009, and after posting $25,000.00 straight bail, he was
released by Magisterial District Judge Brian R. Germano from Marshalls
Creek. Santiago-Hernandez then failed to appear in Monroe County Court on
February 26, 2009.
On March 18, 2010, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police requested the
assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend
Santiago-Hernandez. This fugitive case was included as part of the USMS-led
Operation First Light III round-up in Monroe County. This 5-day fugitive
operation took place from March 22-26.
U.S. Marshals in Scranton developed information on the fugitive’s possible
whereabouts in Puerto Rico. An investigative lead was sent to U.S. Marshals
in San Juan.
On March 30, U.S. Marshals located and arrested Santiago-Hernandez in the
town of Juncos, Puerto Rico. The fugitive was taken into custody without
incident.
Santiago-Hernandez, now 22 years of age, was processed and committed to the
Bayamon Regional Jail. He will await a court appearance and further hearings
relating to his extradition to Monroe County.
U.S. Marshals were assisted in this fugitive investigation by the Monroe
County Sheriffs Office and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.
The concept of all USMS-led fugitive operations is to seek out and arrest
the nation’s most dangerous, predatory, and violent offenders.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov. |
