Illegal Alien Who Fled Child Sex Assault Charges Returned to Bucks County
Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran announced Wednesday that an illegal immigrant charged with domestic assault and sexual assault on a minor has been extradited from New York back to Bucks County to face justice.
The horrific crime, and the cooperation of local police in getting the illegal alien back into local custody, are a rebuke to Bucks County Democrats who’ve attacked Harran for his decision to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The suspect, Elias Ortega, 40, had been arrested for domestic assault in October 2016, the Sheriff’s Office reported. After posting bail, he faced further charges in December 2016 for the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but Ortega fled before he could be apprehended.
Ortega remained at large until last month, when he was stopped for a traffic violation in New York City. Police officers in Brooklyn ran Ortega’s information through their system and found there was a warrant for his arrest in Bucks County.
Ortega was extradited May 27 in custody of the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office.
The next day, Ortega was arraigned before Magistrate Judge Michael Gallagher and is being held on $2 million bail at the Bucks County Correctional Facility.
“In 2016, a significant lack of programs prevented law enforcement from fully understanding his immigration status after his initial alleged crime and appropriately collaborating with federal partners for holding, prosecuting, and ultimately deporting him,” Harran said Wednesday.
“Because of this, Mr. Ortega was able to allegedly commit another heinous crime in the very same community—this time, a sex crime against a 14-year-old girl. We need to do everything we can to prevent crime. That means not allowing individuals to repeat crime after coming in contact with the justice system, especially when they shouldn’t be here to begin with.”
When Harran announced his department planned to enter ICE’s 287(g) program, authorizing his officers to serve and execute arrest warrants for immigration violations, Bucks County Democrats responded with rage. Angry crowds of activists turned out at two Bucks County commissioners’ meetings, and the two Democratic commissioners voted to strip Harran of his authority to sign such a contract.
Bucks County Commissioners Chair Bob Harvie even compared the actions of Harran, who is Jewish, to events in Germany that led to the rise of Hitler.
Harran says the professionalism displayed by law enforcement in this case shows the standards of behavior citizens can expect.
“We are committed to ensuring due process for all while guaranteeing victims of crime receive their justice,” said Harran. “This apprehension is a testament to the relentless dedication of our law enforcement partners and the critical importance of intradepartmental police work across jurisdictions.”
