One of Van Buren's Top Ten Most Wanted arrested in Ecuador extradited to face 2005 rape charges

A citizen of Argentina who had been on the lam for 18 1/2 years after fleeing from prosecution in Crawford County for three counts of rape remains behind bars in the Crawford County detention center after his arrest in Ecuador and return to United States earlier this month. 

Jose Antonio Castro, who had been listed as one of Van Buren's Top 10 wanted fugitives for a number of years, was arrested in Ecuador and returned to the United States on April 4 to face charges for the multiple counts for rape that occurred on December 1, 2005. 

According to information from Arkansas court connect, Castro was served with a warrant on April 11 after being returned to jail following his extradition from Ecuador.

Castro, who lived in the 2000 block of North 28th Street in Van Buren at the time of the crimes , is charged with three counts of a Class Y Felony Rape which indicates his victim(s) were under the the age of 14 at the time of the crimes. 

The 65-year-old Castro is being held on a $150,000 bond. In addition he is being held in the Crawford County Detention Center on a hold from the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.