Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Former Salem man wanted in molestation case arrested upon his return to U.S.
Police said it was unclear whether Craig Manges Jr. moved to Brazil because of the investigation.
A former Salem karate instructor wanted since 2011 after being accused of molesting two 11-year-old girls was arrested last week as he re-entered the United States from Brazil.
Craig Manges Jr., 25, is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault pertaining to allegations he inappropriately touched the two girls, who were students at a local karate studio, said Salem police Lt. Joe Mills.
Mills said police initially investigated Manges after receiving a complaint about him in 2011. In the course of that investigation, Mills said, police discovered that a similar complaint had been made about Manges in 2005, when Manges was 17. In the earlier case, Mills said, an assistant commonwealth's attorney chose not to pursue prosecution.
Police filed charges against Manges, but when they went to arrest him, they learned that he had moved to Brazil. Mills said police had not contacted Manges before that, so it's unclear whether the move was related to the investigation.
Two weeks ago, however, Manges sought a loan from the U.S. Customs Service to return to the U.S., Mills said. Authorities researching the application discovered the outstanding warrants against Manges and allowed him to re-enter the United States. He was arrested on his arrival in Georgia, according to Mills. He was extradited from there back to Salem.
