North Carolina Sanctuary Releases Honduran Charged with Rape and Child Sex Offenses

Nine months after new Sheriff Garry McFadden implemented sanctuary policies in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, his jail released a previously-deported Honduran man charged with rape and child sex offenses.

Oscar Pacheco-Leonardo, 33, was arrested by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for first degree rape and two counts of indecent liberties with a child on June 14.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it issued a detainer on June 15, requesting custody, or for the jail to notify the agency when Pacheco will be released, but he was released from Mecklenburg County custody on June 16 with no communication to ICE.

“This is yet another example of a clear public safety threat being released onto the streets of Mecklenburg County rather than into ICE custody due to the current sheriff’s policy on ICE non-cooperation,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Atlanta Field Office Director Sean Gallagher.

Pacheco was at large for two months before ICE tracked him down and arrested him.

“By releasing a previously deported alien facing serious criminal charges, Mecklenburg County chose to release a serious public safety threat onto the streets of Charlotte where he was free to potentially harm others for nearly two...

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