Phuket Police arrest American fitness instructor for child sex assault

PHUKET: Police arrested an American man wanted for the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in Houston, Texas, earlier this year.

Fitness instructor Forrest Wayne, 41, was taken into custody in Patong one day after the Phuket authorities received a notice from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“On Saturday night, we received a notification from the FBI to search for Mr Wayne,” said Lt Col Somsak Tongkliang of the Patong Police. “We found him Sunday morning.”

After confirming Mr Wayne’s identity, Patong Police handed him over to Phuket Immigration.

The Houston Police Department issued a wanted notice for Mr Wayne last Wednesday after charging the fugitive in absentia (story here).

In a public statement, the Houston Police said that Mr Wayne befriended the 13-year-old female victim in July while he was working as a fitness instructor.

“He used text messages and phone calls to start a relationship with the girl. That relationship led to Forrest engaging in multiple sexual encounters with the victim at a hotel located in the 9500 block of the Katy Freeway,” the statement read.

Mr Wayne then fled to Thailand.

“We found that he had entered Thailand on November 1,” Col Somsak told the Phuket Gazette.

Capt Angkarn Yasanop at Phuket Immigration told the Gazette this morning, “We have yet to deport Mr Wayne. We are contacting the US agencies on how and when he will be deported.”

Capt Angkarn declined to comment any further.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

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