Editorial: Sex crimes

A better ending appears to be on the horizon in a case of a man accused of molesting a 5-year-old girl in his Bonita Springs Home in November 2003 than another case where a suspect fled on bond in 2002 and hasn’t been caught.

Joseph Ainscough, 58, was captured in Spain on March 15. He is being held in a Spanish prison, but must decide next month whether he’ll fight the extradition order.

While justice might ultimately be slow in Ainscough’s case, at least it appears to be alive, unlike in the 2002 case where Farouk Murad allegedly molested and held against her will a young family friend at a Marco Island hotel.

While authorities stumbled, the more nimble Murad posted bail and was on a flight to his home in Saudi Arabia the next day. He hasn’t been seen around here since, even though one of his attorneys at the time said Murad would appear to face the charges.

Ainscough left the United States and was captured later. Murad was captured, then allowed to get away.

While Spain is giving Ainscough its proper legal channels, the suspect will almost assuredly land back in Lee County to face his accuser.

What a relief.

Good luck in the Murad case.