Target Of International Manhunt Appears Before Judge

POSTED: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 UPDATED: 9:02 am CST February 11, 2009

HOUSTON — A man accused of sexually assaulting children and taping the acts appeared before a Houston judge Tuesday after he was extradited from Thailand, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Darren Castleberry, 40, is accused of sexually assaulting at least four children several times over the past 23 years.

Castleberry, formerly of Spring, faces prosecution on six counts of aggravated sexual assault of female children dating as far back as 1984. Investigators said he fled before his indictments in 2006, triggering an international search for the defendant.

A prosecutor said Castleberry’s first victim was 5 years old, two of his victims were 10 years old and the other was 11 years old.

The alleged sexual attacks took place between 1984 and 2005 at homes in the Spring area.

According to prosecutors, Castleberry assaulted several of the victims repeatedly. Officials said that when one of the victims turned 16, she told her mother and an investigation began.

Two videotapes were also allegedly found.

A bond hearing will be held on Thursday.