A Nevada man arrested in Washington on a Carson City warrant waived his extradition and is expected to be back in the capital city in the coming days.
Benedict Stefan LeVal, 26, is being held without bail in the Whatcom, Wash., county jail on a Carson City warrant for suspicion of felony lewdness with a minor and statutory sexual seduction.
LeVal was arrested Dec. 20 as he and his 3-year-old son re-entered the United States from Canada. He waived extradition on Dec. 22.
The child was turned over to LeVal's parents by Washington child protective services last week. LeVal was given physical custody of the boy in a November 2007 court hearing in Carson City, the same month the allegations against him arose.
The boy's mother, Kristian Mattes, said Tuesday that she was never informed of her son's whereabouts and she hasn't seen him since April. She learned her son was back in Carson City from Washington authorities the day after Christmas.
LeVal is thought to have fled Carson City after detectives called him for an interview concerning allegations that he had sex with the 14-year-old daughter of a friend.
Carson City Sheriff's Detective Dena Lacy said LeVal was supposed to come to the sheriff's department for an interview in August but he failed to show.
Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
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