Quepos mayor charged with using public funds to make child porn

Authorities arrested Aguirre Municipality Mayor Lutgardo Bolaños on Wednesday morning on charges of embezzlement and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, according to a Judicial Investigation Police report. The Aguirre canton lies on the central Pacific coast and includes the popular tourist destinations of Manuel Antonio and Quepos.

Bolaños and his driver were arrested after a four-month investigation. Bolaños allegedly used public funds to make pornographic videos with minors – examples of which, the report indicated, were found on the hard drive of his personal computer. Bolaños also may have rented cars to make trips to different parts of the country to hire vulnerable girls for his films, the report added.

Agents raided two homes and Aguirre Municipality facilities Wednesday, resulting in the seizure of more than 600 compact disks possibly containing pornography and other types of evidence.

Bolaños and his driver were transferred into the custody of the Public Ministry to determine their judicial standing.