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June 8, 2012

Idaho wants molestation suspect

Fugitive to be extradited after child found naked in Haskell home

By Dylan Goforth Phoenix Staff Writer

Idaho officials agreed to extradite a man wanted on molestation charges after learning a missing 3-year-old was found in his mother’s house.

Franklin Lee Payton is being held in the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility. Payton is wanted in Payette County, Idaho, on charges of lewd conduct with a child under 16. His bond in Idaho is set at $50,000.

Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson said his office discovered in May that Payton, 58, was living in Haskell after Haskell residents contacted the sheriff’s office about a 3-year-old girl who was found after being reported missing.

“They said the girl, who had been found naked under a bed in Haskell, was found in Payton’s mother’s house,” Pearson said.

“His mom had bought him a bus ticket and brought him down here in November,” Pearson said. “When we found out he was here and was wanted, we got in contact with Payette County, but they said they couldn’t afford to extradite him. It was getting to the point we were ready to just pick him up and drive him up there ourselves.”

Deputy Roy Banks, the department’s sex offender compliance officer, said Haskell residents heard Payton had been in trouble in Idaho, so they searched out his court records online.

“When they saw he was wanted for the lewd conduct with a child, they came to me,” Banks said. “That’s when we discovered he was wanted and was a fugitive.”

Banks said Payette County would only extradite from Idaho or Oregon.

Pearson said the same Haskell residents that alerted Banks to Payton’s presence, contacted the sheriff’s office again Monday, this time about a 3-year old girl found after being reported missing.

With that information in hand, Banks called Payette County’s District Attorney, Anne Marie Kelso, again. This time, Banks said, Kelso agreed to extradite Payton.

Reach Dylan Goforth at (918) 684-2903 or dgoforth@muskogeephoenix.com.

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