A former sheriff in Colorado has been apprehended in Mexico after attempting to flee from sexual exploitation of a child charges.

On Friday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation reported that Mexican officials had apprehended Jesus Damian Nieblas, 28, in the Mexican border town of Agua Prieta earlier in the week.

Nieblas was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals in Arizona, where he awaits extradition to Colorado.

According to CBI, on July 10, law enforcement carried out a search warrant on Nieblas’s Norwood home and vehicle, at which time he fled to Mexico.

Through investigation, the CBI gathered sufficient evidence to issue a probable cause warrant. This warrant is said to encompass several counts of child sexual exploitation and failure to report.

• One (1) count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Class 3 Felony)
• Eleven (11) counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Class 4 Felony)
• Sixteen (16) counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child (Class 5 Felony)
• Twenty-seven (27) counts of Failure to Report Child Abuse or Neglect (Class 2 Misdemeanor)

As reported by CBS News, Nieblas served as a San Miguel County sheriff’s deputy until he resigned in late June. Prior to his role as a sheriff, he was a code enforcement officer at the Telluride Marshal’s Office until August 2020.

Nieblas had also worked with the Norwood School District as a school resource officer but was removed due to horseplay with the school’s wrestling coach.

CBI was notified by San Miguel Sheriff Dan Covault, who initiated the investigation after learning of allegations against one of his deputies, according to the sheriff’s office as reported by CBS News.

“These alleged crimes are extremely serious and troubling to all those who worked alongside Mr. Nieblas. We support the CBI’s investigative efforts and will await his court appearance to seek closure on this matter,” Covault stated.

“The Sheriff’s Office is committed to transparency, integrity and the highest of moral standards. Criminal activity or unethical behavior will not be tolerated, and we will address any of these issues directly and decisively.”

CBI shows that Nieblas is currently at the Cochise County Jail in Bisbee, Arizona. He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

[Feature Photo via Colorado Bureau of Investigation]