Dewey extradition warrant underway

The extradition of fugitive Charles Lee Dewey III, alias Carter Allen Widmor, is progressing quickly, with the state of Indiana now working on providing the CNMI’s Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division with the necessary documents for an extradition order.

Assistant attorney general Heather Barcinas, who is assigned to this case, said the extradition of Dewey, who has been hiding on Saipan to evade multiple rape allegation in Indiana, is moving along and her office is just waiting on Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s signed warrant for Dewey’s official extradition.

“Right now, we are just waiting for the extradition order from…Indiana and the governor’s warrant,” she said.

Because Dewey has already waived his right to an extradition hearing, once Barcinas receives the paperwork from Indiana, she can officially get going with an extradition request that will be brought before Superior Court Judge Joseph Camacho for approval.

“As soon as we receive that, then we can get going with our paperwork here. The defendant did waive the hearing for extradition so as soon as all this paperwork is done and everything needed is in place, the judge can issue an extradition order and the Sheriff’s Department from the State of Indiana will be the one coming here to the CNMI to pick him up,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne Indiana police department is investigating whether Dewey had help in escaping to Saipan.

“Charles Lee Dewey III was under investigation for allegedly providing illicit narcotics and vape cartridges to minor children, and allegedly committing sex acts with them. FWPD detective Sgt. Todd Battershell led the investigations and subsequently arrested Mr. Dewey on Dec. 9, 2020. Mr. Dewey posted bond with help from family and quickly fled from the United States. More charges involving additional victims were filed while Mr. Dewey was on the run. The United State Marshals Service apprehended Mr. Dewey more than 7,000 miles outside of the United States on Jan. 24, 2024. Mr. Dewey is currently awaiting extradition back to Allen County. An investigation is now underway to determine if Mr. Dewey had help fleeing and if he received assistance while in hiding. We would like to thank the USMS for their perseverance and assistance locating Charles Lee Dewey, III,” said the department in a recent press release.

Last month, the CNMI OAG charged Dewey with one count of fugitive from justice.

Dewey, who has been going by the alias Widmor since fleeing to Saipan in 2022, was arrested last Jan. 26 pursuant to a joint apprehension mission between federal and local law enforcement agencies. He was arrested at the Kagman Community Health Center where he works.

According to court documents, Dewey faces over six outstanding arrest warrants in Indiana on multiple cases involving rape, sexual misconduct with minors, sexual battery, child solicitation, possession of child pornography, dissemination of matter harmful to a minor, and more.

The charges against Dewey date as far back as 2020.

According to the affidavit of probable cause issued in Allen County, in Indiana against Dewey, a 15-year-old girl told police that the defendant propositioned her for sex four times beginning in August 2020 when he knew she was only 14 years old at the time.

In one incident, the victim told police that Dewey “made her engage in sexual conduct and when she cried and told him she was only 14, he answered that he knew it was against the law, but didn’t care, because he had cancer and wanted to have as much sex as he could before he dies.”

On Dec. 8, 2020, the father of another girl called the police at 9:51pm to report that Dewey had raped his daughter. The father told police he had forgotten his wallet and when he returned home, he found Dewey standing at the garage door of his home. After an altercation between them, Dewey drove away in a bright blue Toyota, the affidavit added.

According to court documents, the Northern District of Indiana, Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force requested the U.S. Marshals Service District of the Northern Mariana Islands last Jan. 8 for help in locating and apprehending Dewey. Great Lake’s RFTF shared that their information showed that Dewey has been residing on Saipan.

On Jan. 19, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations met with the Department of Public Safety and informed them that they believed to have located Dewey, who has been using the alias Carter Allen Widmor.

HSI managed to get a copy of Dewey’s license under the alias Widmor and it matched a photo taken of Dewey in Indiana.

A media search was also conducted on the alias Dewey was using and one photo of him with staff at the Eucon International School where he previously taught English classes surfaced. However, law enforcement determined on Jan. 24 that Dewey was no longer employed or associated with Eucon.

Later, law enforcement learned that Dewey frequents another school. Through their cooperation, law enforcement learned that Dewey applied for a position with the school and photos provided by the school helped identify the fugitive.

On Jan. 26, law enforcement learned that Dewey was employed at the Kagman Health Center and a briefing was held in preparation for his apprehension.

That same day, at around 2:35pm, law enforcement officers went to the Kagman Health Center and met with Dewey in his office. Dewey allegedly admitted to officers his real name and he was immediately arrested.

He was charged with one count of fugitive from justice and was booked and detained at DOC.