Spokane, WA. — A Spokane County fugitive accused of multiple crimes against children was arrested last week in Hawaii following an interstate investigation led by the U.S. Marshals Service.
On Feb. 6, members of the U.S. Marshals Service District of Hawaii Task Force apprehended 57-year-old Wilson Ralpho in Koloa on the island of Kauai. Ralpho was wanted on an arrest warrant issued Jan. 28 by Spokane County Superior Court.
Prosecutors in Spokane County charged Ralpho with three counts of rape of a child in the first degree, two counts of child molestation in the first degree, one count of rape of a child in the second degree, and two counts of child molestation in the second degree. Authorities allege he victimized multiple underage children.
Investigators believe Ralpho fled Washington after learning of the allegations and pending charges in an attempt to avoid arrest and prosecution.
The arrest followed coordination between the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the Spokane Police Department. Federal partners worked to ensure Ralpho did not leave the country before being taken into custody without incident.
Additional agencies involved in the investigation included the U.S. Border Patrol, the Hawaii Department of Public Safety – Sheriff’s Division, and the Kauai Police Department.
Ralpho remains in custody pending extradition proceedings back to Spokane.
The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership of federal, state, and local agencies across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska focused on locating and arresting violent fugitives.
Anyone with information about wanted fugitives is encouraged to contact their local U.S. Marshals office or the agency’s communications center at 1-800-336-0102.
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