Whatever Happened To...
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Former Radford teacher allegedly skipped bail
Question: What ever happened to the high school teacher who was accused of setting up a sham marriage so that his male lover from China could remain in the United States?
Answer: Former Radford High School teacher Bob Loren is being sought for apparently leaving Hawaii while awaiting a federal court trial next month.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Hino told a federal magistrate on Tuesday that Loren is currently a fugitive and is believed to be in Mexico.
Loren, 64, was allowed to remain free on $50,000 bail until his March 6 trial for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. He is accused of arranging the marriage of Hang Duan, 20, of China with Shara Padello, 21, of Waianae.
Federal prosecutors learned this month that Loren was on the mainland without permission, a violation of the terms of his release. Within days he had purchased a one-way ticket to Tijuana, Mexico, according to his sponsor in San Diego.
A federal magistrate judge issued a warrant of arrest for Loren on Feb. 9 for violating terms of his release. Lynn Panagakos, attorney for Loren, said she has notified her client that a warrant has been issued, but declined comment.
Loren also has been trying to negotiate his return to the United States. "We don't negotiate with fugitives," Hino said. Loren is aware of the trial date and could return before then. Trial is still set for March 6.
According to an indictment, Duan agreed to pay Padello $1,000 to get married and an additional $5,000 once he obtained permanent residency. The couple were married in August 2005.
Duan pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy and marriage fraud. He said the reason he got married was so he could remain here and go to school, not to be a partner to Loren, Hino said. The two had met while Loren was teaching English in China.
Duan is free after serving a six-month sentence at the federal detention center. He is seeking asylum here.
Padello and her mother, Julia Bivit-Padello, 43, face a longer term for assisting an alien. Mother and daughter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud. The women will be sentenced April 16.
This update was written by reporter Debra Barayuga.
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