CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Thai police have arrested a 35-year-old American wanted in the United States over alleged aggravated sexual assault of children after locating him at a temple in Chiang Mai where he had been staying to practice Buddhism.
The man, identified only as Joshua, was arrested on September 10 by investigators from the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Investigation Division working with Immigration Bureau Division 3.
The operation followed a request from the US Embassy’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) law enforcement office in Bangkok, which contacted Thai immigration authorities on September 8 seeking assistance in locating and returning the American fugitive.
Police said Joshua was wanted under an arrest warrant issued by a court in New Hampshire in connection with allegations of aggravated felonious sexual assault involving minors. His permission to remain in Thailand had also been revoked.
Investigators from the Metropolitan Police’s International Fugitive Investigation and Detection Division (IDMB) examined his immigration and travel records and traced his movements before identifying a possible location in Chiang Mai. They eventually learned that the wanted man was staying at a temple and had entered a period of Buddhist practice.
Police then sent undercover investigators to the temple posing as people taking part in religious practice. With cooperation from temple officials, the officers monitored the suspect and gathered information to confirm his identity.
On the second day of the operation, investigators were able to positively identify Joshua as the person wanted by US authorities. They then revealed themselves as police and immigration officers.
According to police, Joshua acknowledged that he was the same person sought by US authorities. Officers informed him that his permission to remain in Thailand had been revoked before taking him into custody.
Thai authorities said the New Hampshire warrant relates to allegations that Joshua and another person sexually assaulted several female victims who were under 16 years old. Police said he allegedly left the United States to avoid being arrested and subsequently travelled to Thailand.
Following his arrest, Joshua is being held at an Immigration detention facility while authorities complete the legal procedures for his removal from Thailand. US authorities are expected to take custody of him and return him to New Hampshire to face proceedings before the state court.
The operation was conducted under the direction of Metropolitan Police Investigation Division chief Pol Maj Gen Chotiwat Lueangwilai and Immigration Bureau Division 3 chief Pol Maj Gen Songprod Sirisukha, with investigators from both agencies working together to track the fugitive.
The FBI’s Bangkok office, represented by Law Enforcement Attaché Benjamin Virtue and Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché Nicholas Vicencia, provided information that helped Thai authorities locate and arrest the suspect. Thai police said the joint operation demonstrated cooperation between Thailand and the United States in locating international fugitives and preventing wanted individuals from using Thailand as a place to evade prosecution.
