Community Corner

Alleged Child Rapist Caught in Costa Rica, Returned to U.S.

Harold Eugene Smith of Upper Dublin was charged in 2010 and failed to appear for a hearing in 2011.

Written by Alyson D'Alessandro

Montgomery County authorities announced on Friday that they apprehended and returned to the United States alleged child rapist Harold Eugene Smith, who was on a list of Montgomery County's most wanted fugitives for more than two years. 

Smith was apprehended in Costa Rica after another American citizen recognized him in Panama and reported his location, touching off a search by authorities in all three countries.

Montgomery County DA Risa Ferman said in a press release that a federal arrest warrant was issued for Smith in October 2012 after he was positively identified. 

The Montgomery County Detective Bureau had received a tip from an American citizen living in Panama that Smith was in the Central American county.  The tipster came across Smith while he was prospecting for gold in a jungle-like area, and confirmed Smith’s identity on the Montgomery County’s Most Wanted website, authorities said. 

The tipster also provided GPS coordinates of Smith’s location; however, by the time authorities responded Smith was gone. 

A federal arrest warrant was then issued for Smith after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Investigation showed that Smith had crossed the Panama border into Costa Rica. He was arrested by Costa Rican authorities, expelled from the country, and deported to Miami. 

Montgomery County and FBI officials took custody of Smith in Miami on Thursday and returned him to Montgomery County, where has was held in the Montgomery County Correction Facility.

Judge S. Gerald Corso revoked Smith's bail during a hearing Friday morning. 

Smith was charged in 2010 with rape of a child, indecent assault on a person 13 years of age or younger, and corruption of minors for allegedly sexually abusing a minor female from 2007 to 2010. He posted bail and failed to appear at a pre-trial hearing in January 2011, and a bench warrant was issued. 

Smith now faces a pre-trial hearing before Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O'Neill on July 29.


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