A 68-year-old New York man wanted on a felony child-sex warrant was arrested Friday evening inside a Polk County residential community after deputies followed up on a tip. Deputies located Dave Alan Hughes in the Sunlake Terrace Estates neighborhood in Davenport, where he surrendered without incident. He was taken to the Polk County jail and is being held there pending mandatory extradition to New York to face the charges. The outstanding warrant reportedly alleges second-degree felony sexual conduct against a child.
Tip Led Deputies To Sunlake Terrace Estates
The Polk County Sheriff's Office says deputies received a tip around 6:30 p.m. on Friday that Hughes was in the Davenport area and "localized" him at a residence inside the Sunlake Terrace Estates neighborhood, according to Tampa Free Press. The outlet reports that Hughes surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident. Authorities did not immediately say whether he was known to neighbors or how long he had been in the area.
Arrest, Holding And Extradition
Per the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Hughes was transported to the local jail, where he is being held pending mandatory extradition to New York. Extradition will move the case back to the jurisdiction that issued the warrant so prosecutors there can handle formal charging and prosecution. Polk deputies did not release additional details about the investigation on Saturday.
What The Charge Means In New York
Tampa Free Press reported the outstanding warrant was for second-degree felony sexual conduct against a child, language that falls under Article 130 of New York’s Penal Law, which defines sexual-offense charges including sexual abuse and "course of sexual conduct against a child." For readers who want the statutory language and definitions, see New York Courts. At this point there are no New York charging papers available for public review.
What Happens Next
Hughes will remain in Polk County custody until New York authorities file extradition paperwork and arrange his transfer. No additional details have been released by law enforcement about the underlying allegation or any New York court dates. We will update this story as officials provide more information.
