DEL RIO, Texas — The U.S. Border Patrol announced they detained a U.S. citizen at the Texas border they said has an active warrant for failure to appear for a felony child rape charge in Knox County.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, agents assigned to the Comstock Station identified the 51-year-old man while conducting checkpoint operations on Highway 90 West on Jan. 30.
Agents said the man, identified as Erik Courtney Lehto, has outstanding warrants for failure to appear for felony rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery in Knox County.
"Our checkpoint operations continue to be a vital part of securing our nation’s borders within Del Rio Sector,” said Chief Patrol Agent Raul L. Ortiz. “In this case, agents identified a man that could potentially have caused great harm to our community.”
Agents said they also found two guns -- a black Rugar and a revolver -- inside his vehicle. Lehto is scheduled to appear in Knox County Court for the charges on July 28, 2020.
He was taken to the Val Verde Sheriff's Office and is awaiting extradition back to Knox County.