Child Sex Predator Busted In Escambia; Video Shows Him Freed By Georgia Cops

December 29, 2010

A wanted Illinois sexual predator that was caught on video celebrating as Georgia police let him walk away a free man is now behind bars in Escambia County.

Stephen Patrick McClure, 40, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department at Kenmore Road and Highway 29 on warrants out of Madison County, Illinois, on failure to appear and aggravated criminal sexual abuse warrants. McClure was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 10 year old in Granite City, Illinois.

McClure remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond awaiting extradition back to Illinois.

McClure was among a group of carnival workers in van stopped by Decatur County (GA) Sheriff’s deputies in May. According to the online news website BainbridgeGa.com, deputies discovered that McClure was wanted out of Illinois, but Illinois authorities refused to extradite him from Georgia.

McClure was caught on video (see below) celebrating as Georgia authorities were forced to unhandcuff him and allow him to walk away a free man.

According to the Illinois sexual offender database, McClure was 35 at the time he sexually abused a 10 year old child.

Pictured top: McClure is released by Georgia authorities in May after Illinois officials refused to extradite him. The images in a still frame from the video below from BainbridgeGa.com.

Comments

17 Responses to “Child Sex Predator Busted In Escambia; Video Shows Him Freed By Georgia Cops”

  1. diane on January 12th, 2011 7:20 am

    “Why Bother housing him IF …” – it would be the only right thing to do for THE CHILD-VICTIM, whether he is jailed in Georgia or Illinois, pending his return to Ill. Illinois should be ashamed for not working this out FOR this perp’s CHILD-victim from the onset of this situation. And Georgia could have taken this opportunity to make a stand FOR CHILDREN … sadly, our State did not take advantage of their moment in the spotlight regarding a topic (sex crimes against children) which is of an epidemic state.

    A child has no voice but ours … releasing this perpetrator speaks volumes to OUR children … no wonder the majority of our children keep Quiet regarding sex crimes committed against them.

    There should be ZERO TOLERANCE for ALL who abuse our children – physically and/or sexually; and as adults, we should be outraged for any excuses any of our state’s offer for excusing child offender’s. There is NO excuse.

  2. David Huie Green on January 2nd, 2011 9:29 am

    that assumes the parents were unhappy with his actions. They may have sold him the child or time with it in the first place.

  3. SO! on December 30th, 2010 8:42 am

    Yepper give him to the parents,.
    End of story.

  4. Lisa Kaye on December 29th, 2010 10:09 pm

    The article didn’t say that it was a girl. It could just as easily have been a boy.

  5. molino jim on December 29th, 2010 8:51 pm

    DOOFUS IS ON TARGET. I WATCHED THE SAME PROGRAM AND THE STATE IS BROKE. I LOVE READING COMMENTS ABOUT PUTTING HIM IN A ROOM WITH THE VICTIMS PARENTS—HARD TO UNDERSTAND BUT SOME WILL”JUST WANT THE COURTS TO DEAL WITH HIM” I WOULD NOT FEEL LIKE THAT BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD NOT WANT REVENGE

  6. JT on December 29th, 2010 8:10 pm

    The reason he was arrested here after being released in Georgia is that Illinois has to confirm the warrant and confirm that they will extradite. When he was in Georgia, Illinois refused to extradite. When his warrant was confirmed in Escambia County Illinois confirmed extradition and he was arrested. Who knows why Illinois changed extradition but it probably had something to do with the video hitting the internet and the ? hitting the fan. In addition Georgia is one of the worst states for extraditing people.

  7. Jim W on December 29th, 2010 4:44 pm

    I have a quick question for John who made comment on this issue. Do you have a back ground in law? Just wondering not that it really matters I was just wondering.

  8. Jim W on December 29th, 2010 3:23 pm

    What a sorry excuse for a human being. He has already had one conviction it just goes to prove there is no rehabilitation for those kind of people.

  9. ok on December 29th, 2010 2:03 pm

    the above article indicates, “McClure remains in the Escambia County Jail without bond awaiting extradition back to Illinois”

    Doubt they do…if they didn’t from Georgia, don’t see why they would from here. Sad, sad to have a warrant out for his arrest, and then have him captured, just to deny the extradition and force the jails to let him go again…what do they want? for him to walk into the Illinois jail? not gonna happen

  10. John on December 29th, 2010 12:56 pm

    Statute of limitations does not apply for arrest warrants. Once one has been issued, they are active until the person is caught.
    This simply comes down to the fact that Illinois apparently does not want to foot the bill for this guy’s travel from here to Illinois.

  11. David Huie Green on December 29th, 2010 11:10 am

    REGARDING:
    “Why are we bothering to arrest and house him in our jail if Illinois is going to just refuse to extradite again?”

    One fair reason is that he was probably seeking someone else here in our county when he came here. In jail he will find few children to attack.

    David for protecting children

  12. Cynical on December 29th, 2010 10:50 am

    The law protects the guilty so that it may protect the innocent.

    Refusal to extradite may come down to statute of limitations issues or lack of evidence issues or simple paperwork issues.

    Law Enforcement is never that penny pinching as to let someone walk over dollars.

    So I believe.

  13. shae on December 29th, 2010 9:40 am

    Lets just hold him until this precious girls parents can get here. Put them in a room together and I’ll bet extradition won’t be necessary.

  14. doofus on December 29th, 2010 9:08 am

    Watching 60 minutes last week they showed that Illinois, the state govt itself, is broke. No money, can’t pay bills, and state troopers cannot use their state issued gas cards to fill their vehicles… I’ll bet one shiny penny that it comes down to money.

  15. Larry on December 29th, 2010 8:23 am

    Embarrassment to Illinois caused the Illinois Attorney General to get involved and do something. US Marshals then began to search for him.

    Not extraditing is a common occurrence because of the expense involved- not matter what the charge.
    It’s all about money or politics

  16. Why, Why, Indeed! on December 29th, 2010 7:04 am

    That 10 year old girl isi 15 now.

    This man better watch his back.

    I used to like cabbage.

  17. why why why on December 29th, 2010 4:36 am

    Why wouldn’t Georgia extradite him?

    Why are we bothering to arrest and house him in our jail if Illinois is going to just refuse to extradite again?

    Why do Carnies, Circus folk and Nomads smell like cabbage?