IFN Staff

A registered sex offender who faces charges he violated the terms of his probation was apprehended by an Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Tuesday, April 1.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Wilmer Perez Del Valle, 36, of Freedom Drive, Salisbury, in a news release.

On Monday, March 31, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by the U.S. Marshals Service that a wanted fugitive and previously deported felon was believed to be in the Statesville area, Campbell said.

After receiving this information, Detective B. Padgett, who is assigned to the ICSO Special Victims Unit, began looking for Del Valle, a registered sex offender from Florida.

Del Valle was wanted on felony probation violation warrants stemming from sex offenses involving a minor, according to the news release. Through further investigation, Detective Padgett also obtained a possible description of the vehicle the suspect was believed to be driving.

On Tuesday, Detective Padgett located the suspect vehicle on Salisbury Highway and conducted a traffic stop for a violation. The driver was confirmed to be Del Valle, who was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center. Magistrate Nicholson set his bond at $1 million.

Del Valle, a previously deported felon who is in the United States illegally, will be placed on an ICE detainer.

According to the ICSO, the suspect’s criminal history includes the following charges: four counts of Felony Attempted Sexual Battery on a Minor and five counts of Felony Lewd or Lascivious Behavior.