Fugitive returns to VB from Belize

A fugitive located in Belize has been turned over to authorities in Virginia Beach, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.

On March 1, a jury found Cameron Paul Crockett, 23, guilty of involuntary manslaughter and recommended a prison sentence of five years.

The sentencing phase of the trial was set to begin March 5, but Crockett never showed up . He was then indicted for felony failure to appear.

The U.S. Marshall Service said Crockett traveled to Guatemala and Belize. He was on his way back to Guatemala from Belize on June 8 when he was flagged at the border and arrested. Grazia Moyers with the Virginia Beach Police Department said Crockett was deported from Belize and flown to Texas, where he was retrieved by Virginia Beach Police.

In Dec. 2008, Crockett was behind the wheel when he hit a tree on Wolfsnare Road. His friend, John "Jack" Korte, was a passenger in the car and died at the scene. Both alcohol and speed were factors in the accident.

Crockett had given his passport to his attorney, Andrew Sacks, prior to fleeing the country.

“I am very curious where his passport is, and who has it," Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant said. "It was supposed to be in the custody of his attorney, and we are told it is not there, so the question is 'where is it?' and if he has it, how did he get it?"

Sacks said his office did not hand Crockett his passport.

“I do now know how he got the passport," Sacks said. "No one in my office gave the passport to him. He had access to the file, and it is possible he took it.”

Sacks said he realized that the passport was missing when Crockett did not show up for sentencing.

"We thought it may have been misplaced, but when he didn't show we informed prosecutors," Sacks said. "We couldn't located the passport and Crockett probably took it."

Bryant said courts should order defendants to turn over passports to clerk's office and not the defense attorney.