Danbury Man Extradited From Spain Following Child Sex Crimes: Feds

DANBURY, CT — A Danbury man has been extradited from Spain to face prosecution in the United States after being indicted in March for committing child sex crimes, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Michigan issued Wednesday.

The indictment specifically charges Kristian Ignacio Feliz, 24, with three counts of sexually exploiting a minor in Kalamazoo County in January, and one count of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The government expects the defendant’s first appearance will take place Thursday at the federal courthouse in Grand Rapids, at a time to be determined by the court. Spanish Guardia Civil arrested Feliz in June in Barcelona, at the request of the United States. The extradition proceedings took place in the Spanish judiciary system, through which Feliz consented to be extradited to the United States in August.

“I am grateful to the FBI and our Spanish law enforcement partners for their persistent and successful efforts to find and arrest the defendant in Spain, and to facilitate his swift extradition to the United States to face these very serious charges,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “We are prepared to make our case as part of our ongoing efforts to protect children.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with the FBI and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs to prepare and submit a request for Feliz’s provisional arrest, with a plan to seek his extradition soon after.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.