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LEHI — A man convicted of sexually abusing a child in Lehi seven years ago has been extradited from Mexico to serve his Utah prison sentence.
Santos Ismael Hinojos, now 43, was charged in 2007 and found guilty in 2008 of three first-degree felony counts of sodomy on a child after sexually abusing an 8- or 9-year-old girl for several years. Having posted bail in August 2007, Hinojos failed to appear for sentencing in April and May 2008.
Hinojos was sentenced in absentia to serve two consecutive five-year-to-life sentences, as well as a third consecutive five-year-to-life sentence.
Lehi police petitioned the Joint Criminal Apprehension Task Force last year for help locating Hinojos, adding him to the Utah County Most Wanted list, according to Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon.
Hinojos' relatives were uncooperative, and officers from JCAT, Utah County and the U.S. Marshals worked with authorities in Mexico until state police in Baja California, Mexico, were tipped that Hinojos might be living in the area, Cannon said.
Mexican authorities, Utah County sheriff's deputies and U.S. Marshals arrested Hinojos Jan. 22 in Ensenada, Mexico. He was returned to the U.S. the next day and booked into the Utah State Prison on Tuesday.
