U.S. Marshals Track Down Tucson Sex Offender In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Tucson, AZ – Yesterday, Dennis Marklin Foster, age 66, was arrested abroad after several months of running from law enforcement officials as fugitive from justice. In 1985, Foster faced a felony conviction of sexual contact with a minor and was sentenced to a term in prison, in addition to sex offender registration requirements. Foster is required to register as a sex offender for life.

In December 2012, Foster was allegedly charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after the Tucson Police Department conducted a search warrant of his residence. Foster was released on Pre-Trial Release Supervision and is now allegedly in violation of various conditions of his release. His alleged violations include; failure to maintain contact with his pre-trial services manager and failure to reside at the last known address.

In April 2013, an arrest warrant was issued for Foster by the Pima County Superior Court. The U.S. Marshals led Violent Offender Task Force, Child Predator Apprehension Team was requested by the Tucson Police Department to be the investigative agency responsible for locating and arresting the convicted sex offender and pretrial absconder, Dennis Foster.

In May 2013, the U.S. Marshals requested the assistance of the public and media with locating Foster. Deputy U.S. Marshals and Taskforce Officers assigned to the investigation worked all leads thoroughly and completely but were unable to locate Foster. Further investigation revealed that Foster fled the United States and was hiding in Mexico. The U.S. Marshals Mexico Investigative Liaison (MIL) Team was briefed on the information and began trying to locate Foster in Mexico.

Yesterday morning, Mexican officials from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico came into contact with Foster and notified the MIL Team of his location. Foster was turned over to Mexican Immigration and was deported through Los Angeles, California where he was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals led Pacific Southwest Regional Task Force and booked into the L.A. County Jail to await his extradition back to Arizona.

“Law enforcement is more efficient, and provides better service to the citizens they serve, when they develop good work relationships with their criminal justice partners. The partnerships such as the one the U.S. Marshals have with the Republic of Mexico is invaluable when it comes to arresting dangerous criminals and sexual predators,” said David P. Gonzales, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona.

Charges will be considered against individuals who hindered and/or provided false information during the course of the investigation.

The federal, state, and local agencies that comprise the Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force (Tucson Metro Division) include: U.S. Marshals Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Arizona Department of Public Safety; Pima County Adult Probation Office; Arizona Department of Corrections; Tucson Police Department; U.S. Border Patrol; Pima County Sheriff’s Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.