U.S. Marshals in Hawaii Arrest Alleged Child Rapist Wanted in Spokane Co.

Spokane, WA - On Feb. 6 the U.S. Marshals Service District of Hawaii Task Force, following an interstate fugitive investigation, arrested in Koloa on the island of Kauai a man wanted in Spokane County on charges of crimes against children.

Wilson Ralpho, 57, was wanted on an arrest warrant issued Jan. 28 by the Spokane County Superior Court charging him with three counts of rape of a child in the first degree, two counts of child molestation in the first degree, rape of a child in the second degree, and two counts of child molestation in the second degree. It is alleged that Smith victimized multiple underage children.

Investigators believe that after Ralpho became aware of the allegations and pending charges he fled Washington State to evade arrest and avoid prosecution.

The U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, working in close collaboration with the Spokane Police Department, located Ralpho and coordinated with federal partners to prevent him from leaving the country. As a result of these efforts, Ralpho was successfully apprehended without incident.

Ralpho will remain in custody pending extradition proceedings back to Spokane.

The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to protecting communities and ensuring that individuals accused of violent crimes against children are located and brought before the court to face justice.

The arrest and investigation was conducted by members of the USMS District of Hawaii Task Force, the USMS Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, the Spokane Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Hawaii Department of Public Safety – Sheriff's Division, and the Kauai Police Department.

The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips.