Molestation Suspect Arrested in Idaho
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By JOHN McDONALD A former computer company executive suspected of staging his own death in 2002 to dodge child-molestation charges in Orange County is alive and was arrested Tuesday in Boise, Idaho, officials said. Daniel James Farinholt, 44, of Lake Forest was reported missing in May 2002 after his boat was found anchored near shore in Los Angeles. His blood was found aboard the boat, and his 1997 BMW was abandoned near where the boat left shore. Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators concluded that he staged the event to make it look like he was dead. Farinholt was arrested Tuesday afternoon at an office in Boise, where he had worked as a computer engineer under the name Donald E. Dudley. He had obtained phony documents and created a phony resume to get the job, said Boise police spokeswoman Lynn Hightower. She said Farinholt had been living in the area for two years and apparently lived alone. People were tipped off recently by a confidential informant that Dudley was Farinholt and wanted in Orange County. Farinholt had been free on $200,000 bail and made two court appearances on four counts of molesting a minor female in Orange County before he disappeared. He lived in Lake Forest in 2002, when he was charged with molestation. He headed the El Segundo branch of Sierra Systems Group, a systems-integration firm with clients including the Los Angeles Police and Sheriff’s departments. Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators concluded that Farinholt was alive but they didn’t know his whereabouts. Authorities feared that Farinholt would victimize children if not captured. "I spoke to the mother of his victim this morning and she is ecstatic," said Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigator Wade Walsvick. "Now she can lose the fear she’s been living with for three years." He said there had been virtually no leads on the whereabouts of Farinholt since he disappeared. David Ring, a Los Angeles attorney who represents the victim’s mother, said she and the girl moved from Orange County and have been keeping a low profile since the staged death. "For all they knew, he was living two miles away from them," he said. "The girl was molested on a regular basis from age 4 to age 13. Now they don’t have to look over their shoulders every minute." Boise police said they are conducting an investigation to determine whether Farinholt committed any crimes while he was living in that area. He had obtained false documents to take on the identity of Dudley. Officials said the Farinholt case had been featured in October on the TV show "America’s Most Wanted," and Boise police used information contained on the show’s Web site in their investigation. The tip disclosed where Farinholt was working, and Boise officers staked out the workplace. He was arrested at work and admitted he is Farinholt, officials said. "This is an important arrest", said Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson. "The arrest is the result of a citizen’s tip to Boise police, cooperation between police agencies and those that believe in law enforcement. We hope any victims feel some reassurance that this suspect is now in custody." Farinholt is being held without bail by federal marshals in Idaho. He is expected to appear before an Idaho judge today and decide whether to fight extradition. |
