Alleged Child Molester Extradited to Maricopa County

A collaborative effort between the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Phoenix Police Department, and the U.S. Marshal’s Office has resulted in the extradition of Miguel Franco-Castañeda.

Franco-Castañeda, 74, is accused of molesting three children under the age of 15 between January 2014 and August 2015.

On September 29, 2022, Franco-Castañeda was extradited to the U.S. from Mexico.  Earlier this month, Franco-Castañeda was arraigned on the following charges: two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, class two dangerous felonies, one count of touching a minor, a class six felony, and one count of molestation of a child, a class two felony and dangerous crime against children.


“This defendant had absconded for years and now we can bring justice to his victims who were innocent children when they were abused. This defendant ran from the law, but the law has found him, and the law will hold him accountable,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.

Franco-Castañeda’s next scheduled court date is set for a pretrial conference on Nov. 17. His trial is set to begin Feb. 6, according to court records.