Sex offender arrested after attempting to flee from Border Patrol
A previously convicted sex offender was arrested by Border Patrol agents after he allegedly attempted to flee from secondary inspection at the Highway 86 checkpoint Thursday morning.
Custom and Border Protection said the incident happened at around 3:38 p.m. Agents noticed someone in the rear of a black Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by a 44-year-old man, who was trying to hide under a blanket. Agents directed the man to secondary inspection, who ignored them, sped off, and headed northbound on Highway 86.
Authorities were able to arrest the driver, who was identified as Timothy James Colburn, a United States citizen. Two additional passengers, that were also found to be Mexican nationals, were also arrested.
Agents discovered Colburn’s immigration and criminal history stated that in 2006 he was sentenced to five years in prison. His convictions were for sexual battery and two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of fourteen.
“I am not only proud but also thankful of the work accomplished by our agents,” said Acting Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Miguel Garcia. “Not only does this arrest make our community a safer place but also keeps this smuggler from preying on the vulnerable child he might have smuggled in the future.”
Colburn will be held in federal custody pending criminal prosecution. The three individuals and the vehicle were transported to the Highway 86 checkpoint for processing.
