CALIFORNIA
San Diego Union-Tribune
By Kristina Davis Feb. 4, 2016
SAN DIEGO — A former Ohio seminary student accused of traveling to San Diego to have sex with infant and toddler girls in Mexico agreed during a brief hearing Thursday to be detained in jail for now, although he could argue for bail at a later time if he wishes.
Joel Alexander Wright, 23, was arrested Friday morning after landing at Lindbergh Field, before he could carry out the alleged plan to cross into Tijuana and wait for the girls at a hotel, investigators said.
He was studying to become a Roman Catholic priest at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus. The school called Wright a former student and said it was “shocked and saddened” to learn of the “heinous and reprehensible” allegations. Rev. John Allen said in the statement that the school was cooperating with authorities.
The investigation began in November when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip from someone who had come across a Craigslist ad soliciting the adoption of infants in Mexico, according to the complaint filed in San Diego federal court.
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