AUSTIN, TX – Richard Pate, 50, of Georgetown was arrested in the Costa Rican highlands outside of the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Pate’s arrest culminated a two and half year investigation ending with Pates arrest in Atena, Costa Rica by Costa Rican authorities on December 1st. Pate was arrested without incident and quickly deported to the United States for having no legal immigration status in Costa Rica.

Pate stands charged in Williamson County pursuant to a June 2005 allegation that he sexually assaulted a child. During the course of the criminal investigation, Pate fled the United States. A subsequent investigation ensued by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Williamson County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service in late 2005, revealed Pate had entered Costa Rica. In June of 2006, Pate was arrested at the Costa Rican border as he attempted to enter from Panama.

In November of 2006, the local Court in Limon, Costa Rica released Pate from custody citing no dual criminality in the charges Pate faced in the United States. The U.S. Embassy Consular Officer was advised in January 2007 of Pate’s release. Local Task Force officers subsequently filed a federal Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution complaint and warrant against Pate, seeking to have Pate’s passport revoked on the basis of the federal warrant. As a result, U.S. State Department officials revoked Pate’s passport, giving Pate no status to remain legally in the country. Local investigation by Costa Rican Interpol identified and confirmed Pate’s presence in Atena where Pate was arrested. Costa Rican Immigration authorities reviewed Pate’s immigration status and determined that Pate had no legal status to remain in Costa Rica resulting in his deportation Tuesday night.

Pate arrived at the Miami International Airport and was remanded into the custody of the Dade County Sheriff’s Office pending extradition to Williamson County.

LaFayette Collins, United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas said, “The Pate investigation is an example, when our children are involved, why we are dedicated to apprehending dangerous and violent fugitives in cooperation with our international law enforcement partners. The Lone Star Fugitive Task Force will not stop pursuing a fugitive until justice has been served.”

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin are the Austin Police Department – Intelligence Unit, Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, Williamson County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Rangers, and the U.S. Marshals Service.