SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - An alleged child molester was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday night and is now booked in Santa Barbara County Jail on $200,000 bail.
Here's what the Sheriff's Department says:
"When 67 year old Michael Norris landed at the Los Angeles International Airport on a direct flight from Costa Rica late last night, he knew Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Detectives were waiting for him. Sheriff's Investigators, along with FBI and United States Customs agents, boarded the plane and took Norris into custody. Norris, who had a warrant for his arrest in Santa Barbara County on multiple counts of child molestation charges surrendered to authorities without incident. Norris was transported to the Santa Barbara County jail where he was booked and is being held on $200,000 bail.
The arrest was a coordinated effort between investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Felony Fugitives and Criminal Investigative Divisions and United States officials in Costa Rica who assisted in monitoring Norris' whereabouts and ensuring he boarded the plane.
The arrest follows an investigation that began in February of 2012 involving allegations that Norris had sexually abused a minor over the course of several years during the time he lived in Carpinteria. Norris moved to the farm town of Quepos, Costa Rica in 2006. A warrant was issued for his arrest in December of 2012. When Norris learned of the warrant he agreed to return to Santa Barbara County and negotiated his surrender with Sheriff's investigators.
Norris is charged with multiple counts of child molestation including but not limited to continual sexual abuse of a minor, contact with a minor with the intent to commit sexual abuse, distributing and producing pornography to a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years of age.
An arraignment date has not been set."
