DENVER – A Virginia politician says a well-known pedophilia advocate was arrested Monday at Denver International Airport on charges of housing a minor after abducting a 12-year-old girl from Fresno, California earlier in the day. The victim was rescued and physically unharmed, police said on Saturday.
Nathan Daniel Larson, 40, was traveling with the girl from Fresno to Washington DC when he was arrested at DIA during a layover in Denver, police said.
Although Larson was arrested on a felony charge, in Fresno County he faces charges of kidnapping, child abduction, requests for child pornography from a minor and meeting a child with intent to have sex.
Larson allegedly met his victim via social media in mid-October and was forced to run away with him, police said. On Sunday, Larson flew from Virginia to Fresno and then traveled to the girl’s house.
At around 2 a.m. Monday, police said Larson arrived at the victim’s home in Fresno in a ride-share vehicle and persuaded her to sneak out of her house. Larson forced her to wear a wig with long hair to change her appearance. He also told her to act like she was disabled and unable to speak to ensure she wouldn’t talk to anyone at the airport while heading for the plane, according to a Fresno release. County Sheriff’s Office.
Witnesses told investigators that Larson inappropriately touched the victim while he was seen with the girl on DIA. A Denver police officer assigned to the local FBI task force located Larson and arrested him. Agents rescued the girl, who was unharmed, and made arrangements to reunite her with her family in Fresno, where she was later Monday night.
According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Larson is a white supremacist and a well-known pedophilia advocate. In 2017, Larson had run for political office as an independent and attempted to become a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing District 31. He then lost the race.
In December 2008, while living in Boulder, Larson sent a detailed email to the United States Secret Service threatening to kill the President of the United States. At the time, George Bush was the outgoing president and Barack Obama the new president. Larson pleaded guilty to federal court. In October 2009, he was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison and sentenced to 14 months.
Larson will hold a hearing in Denver on Dec. 24. During this time, an extradition request will be made to transport Larson to Fresno County Jail.