— A Tahlequah man charged with molestation and arrested in Florida after allegedly attempting to flee prosecution was released on bond Thursday.

Roxie Lee Wagers was arrested in Broward County, Fla., on Jan. 8 by U.S. Marshals after authorities discovered he was likely living in the area.

Court documents allege Wagers molested a young girl multiple times between 2006 and 2012. He also is accused of offering the father of one of the girls he allegedly molested $17,000 if they wouldn’t go to authorities.

Special District Judge Mark Dobbins set a $100,000 bond on Thursday for Wagers, who had been held without bond since his extradition to Cherokee County. District 27 Assistant District Attorney Doug Dry said he objected to the bond, but in retrospect, should have asked for a continuance, because he wasn’t the district attorney assigned to Wagers’ case.

“What happened was, we were doing a sentencing (on another case), and while waiting on a phone call from the (Oklahoma Department of Corrections,) they did this motion,” Dry said.

The motion for a reasonable bond was filed Monday, but Dry said Marena Doolittle, who is the DA assigned to Wagers’ case, didn’t receive the motion.

“She was in a jury trial while this was going on,” Dry said. “I know Wagers’ case, but I’m not the DA on it and didn’t know there had been a formal motion. Of course, I could have corrected that by asking for a continuance. I don’t have an excuse. I should have handled it differently.”

While living in Florida, Wagers had allegedly purchased a plane ticket to Bogota, Colombia, but had missed his flight. Thursday he was ordered by Dobbins to surrender his passport.

He was placed under house arrest at a family member’s house and was ordered to wear an ankle bracelet.

“We’re not happy about the bond. I mean, the judge is a smart guy and he did what he saw fit with the evidence he had in front of him,” Dry said. “But $100,000 bond isn’t a joke and (Wagers will) be monitored closely. If he were to tamper with the bracelet, we would be notified immediately.”

Wagers will return to court at 9 a.m. Feb. 13 for a sounding docket to set a date for his preliminary hearing.

“There’s always some risk that he could try to run, we can’t say there’s not any risk here,” Dry said. “But if he tried to leave again, he wouldn’t have much time to get too far. And his bondsman has about a $100,000 investment in the guy, he’ll be watching him close.”  

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