HAMILTON, ON — A man wanted in Ontario for more than three decades in connection with child sexual abuse allegations has been arrested by U.S. immigration authorities in California, bringing an apparent end to a search that dates back to 1991.
Charles Peter Billone, 64, of Hamilton, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in the San Francisco area. He remains in U.S. custody while awaiting deportation proceedings.
Billone has been wanted by Canadian authorities for more than 30 years in connection with child sexual abuse charges. The allegations against him have not been proven in court.
According to authorities, Billone was released on a recognizance but allegedly failed to return to court as required. Hamilton police subsequently began searching for him, and his whereabouts remained unknown for decades.
U.S. immigration officials announced the arrest through a social media post, saying Billone was also suspected of involvement in other alleged offences, including theft.
The case had remained on the radar of Hamilton police for years. In 2014, investigators publicly indicated that Billone might have assumed another identity and could be living outside Ontario.
That possibility appears to have gained significance following his arrest in California.
The circumstances surrounding how Billone was located, how long he may have been living in the United States and whether he had been using another identity were not immediately detailed by authorities.
His arrest marks a significant development in a case that has remained unresolved for approximately 35 years.
Billone is currently being held by U.S. authorities while immigration proceedings move forward. If he is ultimately returned to Canada, he could face the outstanding Canadian charges and related court proceedings.
The arrest also highlights the ability of law-enforcement agencies to pursue long-standing fugitive cases across international borders, even decades after an accused person disappears.
The case remains before the authorities, and Billone is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.