Fugitive arrested trying to cross border

A convicted felon is behind bars in Colusa County again after more than three years on the run, authorities said.

Cuitlahuac Padilla, 24, of Arbuckle was arrested Tuesday in Nogales, Ariz., while attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the United States, Colusa County District Attorney John Poyner said.

"This is the second time we've had to get him back from Mexico," Poyner said.

Padilla was convicted in 2003 on multiple felony charges, including possession of a knife in a Colusa courtroom and cultivation of marijuana for sale and burglary, Poyner said.

He was ordered to appear for sentencing but fled to Mexico, Poyner said.

Investigators extradited Padilla back to Colusa from Mexico in 2005. He was sentenced to seven years in state prison, but Judge S. William Abel, now retired, stayed the sentence to allow Padilla to receive drug rehabilitation treatment, authorities said.

Padilla escaped the San Francisco facility on Christmas Day 2005 and fled back to Mexico, Chief Investigator Dave Markss said.

Colusa detectives, working with the FBI issued a federal warrant alleging unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Markss said.

Padilla was arrested while attempting to cross the border back into the United States, Poyner said.

Poyner said Padilla's father, whose name was not available, had gone to Mexico, possibly to bring his son home, but was found murdered in December under mysterious circumstances.

Several conflicting stories surround the murder and the specific details of the case were unavailable Thursday.

Authorities said it was unclear why Padilla was attempting to return to the United States.

Padilla will be back in court Jan. 21 for further proceedings, Poyner said. The suspect is being held without bail in Colusa County Jail.

Contact Tri-County Newspapers reporter Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.