Father Arrested after Violating Custody Order
In Phuket, Thailand, a man from Greenville was taken into police custody earlier this year after he violated a child custody order. On June 9th, 38-year-old Samuel Lee Horton was escorted back to the United States by special agents with the FBI.
Authorities say that Horton was charged by the Greenville County Sheriff's office after he violated a custody order involving his three-year-old daughter on May 5, 2009. Horton and his wife are divorced and she has custody of their daughter and son. However, he was granted visitation rights.
After investigators learned that Horton had taken his daughter out of the country, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Ongoing investigation led to a federal grand jury indictment on a charge of fraud in connection with a passport he had secured for his daughter so he could take her to Thailand.
According to the attorney of the girl's mother, Horton told her he was taking the girl to Disneyland, but instead took her to another country.
If you are having a child custody dispute, contact our law office and get help from a Long Island family law attorney.