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Fugitive Ex-Priest in Long Island Child Sex Abuse Case Caught in Guatemala, Extradited Back to U.S.: Police

He is set to return to court on May 15

A defrocked priest wanted for sexually abusing a child in New York was found in Guatemala and extradited back to the U.S. over the weekend, authorities said. 

Augusto Cortez, 53, was wanted for allegedly sexually abusing a girl in 2014 in Southampton, Long Island. He fled to South America when he realized he was being investigated, according to Southampton police.

Cortez ran away to several South American countries before Interpol located him in Guatemala, police say. 

He was extradited back to the U.S. with the help of U.S. Marshals and was arrested at JFK Airport on Saturday.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. 

He was remanded to jail without bail and is set to return to court on May 15.

Cortez is a registered sex offender, according to Suffolk prosecutors. He was expelled from the Vincentian Order after he was convicted of forcible touching in Brooklyn in 2009. 

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