SEATTLE, WA—Charles Carrol Hartzell, 42, of Nordland, Washington, was detained on April 11, 2024, without incident in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, by Tamaulipas authorities, announced Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Richard A. Collodi of the Seattle Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hartzell was wanted out of Clallam County, Washington, on two felony counts of dealing with depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and two other state warrants.

Court documents allege the following: On June 9, 2023, the Superior Court of Washington out of Clallam County, Washington issued an arrest warrant for Hartzell charging him with two felony counts of dealing with depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hartzell was also wanted on two other state warrants—a Department of Corrections warrant for escaping prison and a material witness warrant in a gang-related homicide trial. On April 9, 2024, Hartzell was charged with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution in the Western District of Washington, and a federal arrest warrant was issued for Hartzell.

“Thanks to successful international partnerships and the FBI’s global reach, fugitives from justice can find few places to hide. I commend the strong teamwork and incredible efforts of our investigators and partners to bring Mr. Hartzell back to the United States to face justice,” said SAC Collodi.

The FBI Seattle Field Office credits the FBI Legal Attaché Mexico City, FBI Criminal Investigative Division, Washington State Department of Corrections, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Mexican authorities. The case is being investigated by the Port Angeles Police Department and prosecuted by the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

FBI Seattle is one of 56 FBI field offices located in major U.S. cities with nine satellite offices called resident agencies in Washington state. The mission of the FBI is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. For more information, visit www.fbi.gov or www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/seattle.