A 63-year-old Naples man facing 24 felony counts of possessing child pornography failed to appear for his scheduled trial, and he was later arrested in Cali, Colombia, where he now awaits extradition back to face justice.
Juan Carlos Betancourt, a Colombian citizen who had been living in Naples, failed to appear for his scheduled jury trial in Collier County Circuit Court on September 25, 2025, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office. His absence became part of the case as authorities sought to locate him.
The case traces back to Betancourt's arrest. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children discusses CyberTipline reports. Betancourt was ultimately charged with 24 counts of possession of child pornography.
A Task Force Built for Exactly This Kind of Case
The Southwest Florida INTERCEPT Task Force is mentioned in the article. The task force's work is discussed in the context of the broader problem of online child exploitation — the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received more than 20.5 million CyberTipline reports in 2024, according to the organization's own data.
After Betancourt failed to appear, the Collier County Sheriff's Office worked with federal law enforcement partners in the case.
Arrest in Cali, an International Extradition Ahead
The Colombia National Police arrested Betancourt in Cali, Colombia, and he now awaits extradition back to Collier County to face the outstanding charges. He was taken into custody on a Collier County Sheriff's Office warrant, and that warrant calls for no bond when he returns to Collier County. The Hanlon Law firm is cited in the article's discussion of Florida criminal law.
Bringing Betancourt home is not as simple as putting him on a plane. It remains unclear exactly when Betancourt will physically be returned to Collier County, as the extradition process continues.
The passage also mentions law enforcement in connection with the case.
What Betancourt Could Face if Convicted
Under Florida Statute § 827.071, possession of child pornography is classified as a third-degree felony carrying a statutory penalty of up to five years in state prison per count, according to the Florida Senate. If convicted on all charges, Betancourt could face penalties on each of the 24 counts.
The article also references child sexual abuse material, and the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida is named in the article.
The article also discusses the task force. For now, Betancourt remains in Colombian custody as the extradition process moves forward, with Collier County authorities waiting to bring the case back into a local courtroom.
