Diplomatic Security Helps Return Fugitive Child Molester To U.S.Bureau of Diplomatic SecurityWashington, DC May 1, 2007 Fugitive Wanted in Florida and Ohio A fugitive child molester and deadbeat dad has been returned to the United States with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Ralph Berlin Stepp is wanted by authorities in Florida, where in 2002 he pleaded no contest to a charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with an 11-year-old girl. Stepp’s passport indicated he had been living in Indonesia since May 25, 2002, five days before he was supposed to appear in a Florida courtroom for his sentencing hearing. Stepp also is wanted by authorities in Ohio for failure to pay child support. He was detained April 16 by Indonesian police for overstaying his visa. When Indonesian authorities alerted the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta of Stepp’s detention, Diplomatic Security personnel at the embassy worked quickly to verify Stepp’s fugitive status. Following an Indonesian deportation ruling, Diplomatic Security coordinated with Indonesian Immigration, Indonesian National Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service to have Stepp transported from Indonesia to the U.S. territory of Guam, where he was arrested and faces extradition back to Florida at the request of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. An Indonesian National Police officer escorted Stepp from Bali to Guam, where he was arrested April 20 by local police and agents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection. In the past three years, nine American fugitive felons have been located in Indonesia by Indonesian and U.S. law enforcement officials and returned to the United States. Greg Starr, Director of the Diplomatic Security Service, noted the unique abilities of Diplomatic Security to operate globally, and praised the cooperation of Indonesian authorities in helping to return the fugitive to the United States. “It’s this type of close, worldwide law enforcement liaison capability that gives Diplomatic Security unparalleled ability to locate, pursue and apprehend fugitives,” said Starr. “Despite the lack of an extradition treaty between Indonesia and the United States, the Indonesian National Police and Immigration authorities have been extremely cooperative with DS personnel in locating and deporting American citizens who are fugitives from justice.” Brevard County Sheriff’s Sgt. David Fitch cited the international cooperation among multiple law enforcement agencies for locating the fugitive child molester halfway around the globe and returning him to Florida. “The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is grateful for the cooperation of the Indonesian Authorities, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the United States Marshal Service, and the authorities in Guam for reaching across the world to bring a sex offender back to face justice in Brevard County, Florida,” said Fitch. “This should send a message to sex offenders there is nowhere in the world to hide.” The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the U.S. Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.diplomaticsecurity.state.gov. Contact: |
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