Phuket cops arrest American man wanted for child sex abuse

published : 1 Sep 2026 at 08:05

ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Achadthaya Chuenniran

A police officer questions Lance Beck. (Photo: Phuket Immigration Office)

An American man wanted in the United States on eight warrants over alleged sexual offences against children was arrested at a Phuket hotel on Saturday, police said.

The suspect, identified as Lance Beck, 48, was arrested in tambon Nai Yang, Thalang district, after the FBI coordinated with Thai police, immigration investigators and local officers.

Mr Beck is wanted on seven state and one federal warrant in Alabama in connection with alleged sexual offences against minors, police said.

The charges include sexual torture, rape, human trafficking, facilitating a child's travel for an unlawful sexual act, sexual abuse and incest.

Police said Mr Beck was accused of sexually abusing children under 14 and recording videos of the alleged abuse before fleeing to Thailand.

Thai authorities later learned he had entered the country through Phuket airport and was staying at the hotel.

Mr Beck was taken into custody before being transferred to the Immigration Detention Centre pending deportation, police said.

Vocabulary

abuse (noun): cruel, violent or unfair treatment, especially of someone who does not have the power to prevent it - การข่มเหง, การปฏิบัติไม่ดีต่อ
deportation: the process of forcing someone to leave a country, especially someone who has no legal right to be there or who has broken the law - การเนรเทศออกจากประเทศ
incest (n): sexual activity between family members -
minor: someone who has not reached the age where they are legally an adult - เยาวชน
pending: waiting to be dealt with, settled or completed - ยังค้างอยู่, ซึ่งยังไม่จบสิ้น, อยู่ในระหว่าง
suspect: a person who is thought to have committed a crime - ผู้ต้องสงสัย
torture: causing great physical or mental pain to someone intentionally - ทรมานให้เจ็บปวด
trafficking: dealing in illegal goods, like drugs, weapons or in illegally moving humans or animals from one place to another - การค้าสิ่งที่ผิดกฎหมาย
warrant (noun): a legal document that is signed by a judge and gives the police authority to do something - หมาย