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Durango fugitive arrested, faces $20M bail
43-year-old in jail after 2nd time on lam
Herald Staff Writer
Mujica
Javier Mujica, 43, was arrested Sept. 24 in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Marshal's Office, in cooperation with the 6th Judicial District Attorney's Office, extradited Mujica from the Dominican Republic to Miami to Durango.
He was being held Tuesday at the La Plata County Jail.
Mujica is suspected of offering six girls between the ages of 10 and 15 up to $100 if they would accompany him in his car or expose themselves to him. A couple of victims testified that Mujica exposed himself to them.
The alleged incidents occurred in late 2003 and early 2004 in Durango. One of the alleged incidents occurred at
Wal-Mart and another occurred near the High-Five Trans Lux Theater.
Aware of his pending arrest, Mujica fled the country for 2½ years. He was arrested in December 2006 in Panama after authorities received an anonymous Crimestoppers tip.
He was brought back to Durango to face charges of enticement of a child and indecent exposure.
But with the help of his father, a physician in Atlanta, Mujica posted a $1 million bail. The bail was set high because Mujica allegedly avoided police for 2½ years, is an experienced international traveler, is fluent in Spanish and was in possession of three passports when arrested in Panama.
As conditions of his bond in 2007, Mujica was to wear a Global Positioning System receiver around his ankle and was to remain in the Atlanta area.
While free on bail July 31, 2007, in an Atlanta parking lot, Mujica allegedly cut the ankle bracelet and fled.
For the last year, the U.S. Marshal's Office and the District Attorney's Office have executed "a host" of search warrants to obtain records to track Mujica's whereabouts, said District Attorney Craig Westberg.
In addition to facing charges in Durango, Mujica is suspected of numerous passport violations. But his charges here are considered more serious and will be dealt with first, Westberg said.
In earlier proceedings, Mujica was represented by Denver defense lawyer Pamela Mackey, who helped defend NBA star Kobe Bryant against sexual assault charges.
It was uncertain whether Mackey will continue to represent Mujica; Mackey did not return a phone call Tuesday seeking comment.
While sex offenders come from all social-economic backgrounds, Westberg said he has never dealt with a suspect who posted a $1 million bail or one being held on a $20 million bail. The bail amount was set by District Judge Jeffrey Wilson.
Mujica was arrested before his $1 million bail was forfeited, so his father is largely off the hook for paying it. However, the cost of extradition can be deducted from the posted bail.
Mujica is set for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in District Court in Durango.
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