David Stogner, who has been on the run since 2020 from child exploitation and child molestation charges in Columbia, was arrested by the Denver Police Department on Monday and is expected to be extradited back to Marion County soon.
Stogner, 33, was first arrested July 11, 2018, by the Columbia Police Department on felony charges of child molestation-touching child for lustful purpose and child pornography. Former CPD Det. Candace Stuart had received a tip about a molestation and, through her investigation, found enough evidence to get an arrest warrant for child pornography as well. However, the child pornography charge is no longer active.
When he was initially arrested in 2018, he was also charged with possession of controlled substance paraphernalia as well as having an outstanding warrant for domestic violence.
In 2019, Stogner did not appear for his court hearing, and a bench warrant was issued for his detainment in 2020. Because the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for all warrants, the department had been searching for Stogner since 2020 but had to turn over the search to the U.S. Marshals.
Stogner, who was allegedly living under the alias of Jessie Mauldin, was arrested in Colorado on breaking and entering and burglary charges. After learning of his true identity, Denver PD notified the CPD and sheriff's office that it had Stogner in custody.
MCSO Chief Deputy Jamie Singley said if Stogner waives his extradition hearing, which means he would accept being transferred to Marion County, the process will begin immediately. If Stogner denies his extradition, the District Attorney’s office will then issue a governor’s warrant that would allow for his transfer, according to Singley.
Both the CPD and sheriff's office reported they were unaware of Stogner’s alias, but it was suspected because he seemingly dropped off the face of the earth with no paper trail. Both departments had received unconfirmed information that Stogner could be living in Colorado but not of his precise whereabouts.
CPD Det. Jonathon Martin said whenever a fugitive is expected to be operating under an alias, you have to know what that fake name is to be able to find them. He added that the investigation remains active, and more charges could be issued.
“We’re still talking to the detectives (in Denver), but once we get that figured out, he’ll be extradited back to Mississippi to face these charges and any other charges that may come up in the future,” Martin said. “When I got hired on here, Chief (Adrien) Fortenberry said, ‘Let’s find this guy.’ It took a little while, but he popped up.
“When Chief Fortenberry came in, he made it his mission that if anything out there needs to be buttoned up, we’re going to do the buttoning.”
