Lee County fugitive arrested in Cuba while trying to flee the US

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

A Fort Myers Beach man, wanted for skipping court, was caught on a boat in Cuba and is accused of trying to leave the country.

According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Worden Bourn, 64, a sex offender, was arrested in December 2025 after a missing minor was found on his boat intoxicated and under the influence of narcotics.

After his arrest, members of the Sexual Offender & Predator Unit conducted a detailed review and charged him with four additional sex offender violations.

Bourn then failed to appear for his court date in February, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, LCSO said.

LCSO learned that Bourn had purchased a new boat and planned to flee to Costa Rica.

On Feb. 26, Cuban officials made contact with Bourn in Cuban waters. He claimed that his boat had run out of fuel and requested assistance to continue his trip, LCSO said. He was detained on a failure-to-appear warrant.

Bourn was extradited back to the United States on Monday and is currently being held in Miami-Dade County Jail, awaiting his extradition to Lee County, where he will be charged with additional sex offender violations for leaving the country.

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