Otay Mesa, California - Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Border Patrol agents working near the U.S./Mexico International Border arrested a man who had a previous conviction for child molestation.

At around 2:40 p.m., agents patrolling on All-Terrain Vehicles responded to illicit cross-border activity near Otay Mesa, California. After following footprints for several hundred yards, agents discovered four men hiding in the brush north of the U.S./Mexico International Boundary. After questioning all four men, agents determined that they were all Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States.

The four Mexican nationals were then transported to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing. At the station, record checks revealed that one of the men, 32-years-old, was previously convicted and sentenced to three years in prison in California for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 years of age and had a prior record for deportation.

The man is being held in Department of Homeland Security custody pending prosecution for felony re-entry after deportation.

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on major corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.