An Oklahoma fugitive wanted on multiple sex abuse complaints in Garvin County was arrested last week by U.S. Marshals in Mexico.

In February 2015, a Garvin County judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Billy Wayne Durfey, 43, on 12 counts of sexual abuse of a child. Before police could execute the warrant for Durfey's arrest, the suspect fled. 

Several months ago, U.S. Marshals became aware that their suspect was possibly living in Mexico. The Marshals began working with authorities in Mexico to locate and apprehend Durfey. 

On Wednesday, federal agents arrested Durfey in Monterey, Mexico. He was brought back to the United States and held in Laredo, Texas, while awaiting extradition to Oklahoma to face sex abuse charges.

The original case against Durfey began in August 2012, when he was charged with three counts of first degree rape, two counts of second degree rape, four counts of forcible sodomy, and one count of lewd molestation. A year later, the charges were amended to 12 counts of child sexual abuse. According to court records, a preliminary hearing determined there was sufficient evidence to order trial for the defendant on allegations that he sexually molested a child under 18 for whom he was responsible for the health, safety, and welfare. The alleged sex abuse took place between August 2011 and August 2012.

In December 2014, a Garvin County judge issued a warrant for Durfey's arrest after he failed to appear for a court date. In February 2015, the defendant was charged with felony bail jumping.

Bail jumping is a felony punishable by up to one year in prison, according to 22 O.S. § 1110. The penalties for child sexual abuse are obviously much more severe.

According to 21 O.S. § 843.5, each count of child sexual abuse is a felony punishable by a maximum of life in prison. If the child involved is under the age of 12, however, the crime is punishable by a minimum of 25 years. Child sexual abuse is a Level 3 sex offense that requires anyone convicted of the crime to register for life as an Oklahoma sex offender.

Learn more about Oklahoma child sex abuse laws here.

To read more about sex offender registration in Oklahoma, visit here.