He allegedly returned to U.S. after being deported but was spotted by county detective
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Bolivar Barrios, 25, is behind bars again after a Chester County detective recognized the former Avondale resident as a convicted felon who had been deported, authorities said.
A convicted sex offender who had been deported after serving prison time is back in custody due to the diligence of an off-duty county detective, Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said Monday.
Hogan said Bolivar Barrios, 25, of Mexico, a former Avondale resident and known member of the Sur 13 gang, was spotted last month by Chester County Detective Joe Nangle. “The Chester County Detectives never forget a face,” said Hogan. “Detective Joe Nangle and federal authorities did an outstanding job to get this dangerous criminal off our streets and out of this country.”
According to Barrios’ criminal complaint, he was convicted in 2005 Chester County of rape, kidnapping, and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. In 2012, he was paroled and subsequently deported to Mexico as a convicted felon and illegal alien, the complaint said.
On Aug. 25, Nangle, a former New Garden Township Police Officer who had interacted with Barrios, recognized him at the Walmart in Lower Oxford Township, Hogan said. Because of the presence of children and other civilians, Nangle deemed it unsafe to attempt to arrest Barrios immediately; instead, he worked with his office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations/Immigration and Customs Enforcement to initiate an investigation, Hogan said.
Hogan said Barrios’ status as a convicted felon who had illegally reentered the country and as a Megan’s Law offender were confirmed, and Barrios was taken into custody on Wednesday. Hogan said Barrios, faces a mandatory minimum of three years in state prison, followed by incarceration in federal prison, and then he will be deported to Mexico again.
“This convicted sex offender forfeited any right to be in this great country. He never should have returned to Chester County and the United States,” said Hogan. “He will have plenty of time to think about that in prison before he is returned to Mexico.”
Barrios, who also has a federal detainer lodged against him, was taken to Chester County Prison after failing to post $15,000 cash bail, court records said. He was held for trial for failing to register with state police as a convicted sex offender under the provisions of Megan’s Law at a preliminary hearing Monday before Magisterial District Judge Scott A. Massey.
The Pennsylvania State Police assisted the Chester County Detectives and the Department of Homeland Security in the investigation, Hogan said.
