Maui man extradited from Thailand to face sexual assault charge
A 46-year-old Maui man wanted for sexually assaulting a boy under 14 years old last year has been apprehended in Thailand by the U.S. Marshals Hawaii Fugitive Task Force. and returned to the islands for trial.
Steven Strike, of Paia, was indicted by a Maui grand jury Feb. 1 for allegedly sexually assaulting a child younger than 14 years old for more than a year.
After being booked and processed by the Maui Police Department in February 2012, Strike was released pending further investigation and left Hawaii.
After he was indicted this year Maui police were unable to locate Strike and learned that a few days after his initial arrest that had he fled the state. In October, the Maui prosecuting attorney’s office requested the assistance of the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force. The investigation lead the task force from Paia to Tempe, Ariz., and then to Bangkok.
Strike was located Dec. 1. at a home in Pattaya, Thailand, where he had been living for the past 21 months. Strike was extradited back to Hawaii Thursday and is being held at the Maui Police Department cellblock awaiting his initial appearance in court. He is being held without bail.