A Louisiana grand jury has indicted Frank Szeles (formerly Frank John Selas III), a former Darien resident, on charges related to accusations of raping children when he was host of a children’s show in the 1970s.
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Authorities in Louisiana have asked the public:
Anyone with any information associated with crimes believed to be perpetrated by Frank John Selas III A.K.A. Frank John Szeles, A.K.A. “Mr. Wonder” are asked to contact Detective Stephen Phillips Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318) 473-6727, Crime Stoppers at (318) 443-7867, or your local law enforcement.
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Frank Szeles Frank Selas III
Frank Szeles, formerly Frank J. Selas III (photo from U.S. Marshals Service)
Szeles, who legally changed his name in 1992 (although authorities in Louisiana continue to use his former name), was charged with two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of sexual battery and eight counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, citing Brian Mosley, a prosecutor in the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office.
Szeles hosted the “Mr. Wonder” children’s show on KNOE-TV in northern Louisiana in the 1970s and went on camping trips with a number of children. In 1979, after parents accused him of sexually abusing their children on a camping trip, a warrant was issued for Szeles’ arrest. He allegedly fled to Brazil, the Associated Press and other news organizations reported.
Louisiana investigators believe he lived elsewhere in the United States since then, including in Darien, which the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office called “his hometown.”
In January, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested him in San Diego, where authorities believe he was living since at least 1985 and where he changed his name.
Szeles, who remains under arrest in California, is due to appear in a San Diego court on Friday. A judge has already ruled that he is the same man wanted in Louisiana, where authorities are expected to apply for his extradition.
In San Diego, Szeles was known as a former Cub Scout leader who also advertised swim lessons for children.
Update, 8:57 a.m.: Selas in Darien
Regarding Szeles’ Darien connection, The Associated Press reported in this article, dated Jan. 31, shortly after his arrest:
Rapides Parish investigators believe Darien is Selas’ hometown, but Darien Police Sgt. Jeremiah Marron said he couldn’t find any records related to Selas or any of the other names attributed to him.
“I asked our most veteran officers if they knew anything and the consensus was that they had never heard of him,” Marron wrote in an email.
“Hometown” may refer to Szeles’ growing up in Darien. In the news release printed below, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office announced:
It was also verified that following his return to the United States in the early 80s, Selas resided in multiple towns / cities across the country. These locations included but was not limited his hometown of Darien, Conn. […]
Szeles is mentioned as a former resident of Dickinson Road in Darien, according to one website (we’re not mentioning the exact address, and the arrow on this Google Map showing the street does not indicate an exact spot on the street).
Update 10:06 a.m.:
Szeles, born in 1939 or 1940, is listed in the 1940 U.S. Census as “Frank Selas Junior” living on Noroton Avenue, according to Ancestry.com.
Frank Szeles in Bonita, Calif.
Update 9:56 a.m.:
These screen shots from “Szeles Enterprises” blog on blogspot and an “About Me” Web page associated with it and another blog, show what kinds of community activities and activities with children Szeles apparently said he was involved with. The description below may not have been accurate.
Szeles may have been involved in the same or similar activities in Darien in the 1980s or before.
Screen shot of part of the Szeles Enterprises Web page on blogspot.com
Frank Szeles’ “About Me” page on blogspot
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Announcement from Louisiana Authorities
Here’s a news release from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office published by that agency Jan. 27 on Facebook:
In June 1979, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint in reference to allegations of criminal sexual conduct that occurred at the primitive camping area near Valentine Lake at Kisatchie National Forest, Gardener, La.
The complainants reported that their juvenile children had attended a camping retreat with Frank John Selas III, also known as “Mr. Wonder” (approx. 39 yoa [years of age] at the time) who hosted a children’s television program at a north La. television station.
The retreat, which took place June 01 – 03, 1979, was promoted by Selas throughout Ouachita Parish and associated with his television personality.
During the trip, Selas allegedly sexually abused several of the children that attended, which he was trusted to chaperone and protect. Following their return, the children disclosed the sexually based criminal acts to their respective parents who in turn contacted law enforcement.
The investigation was originally assigned to then Detective William E. Hilton and Detective Graham Hendricks. Hilton and Hendricks initiated their investigation immediately, which resulted in warrants being granted for Selas’ arrest in reference to two counts of obscene behavior with a juvenile.
With the warrants in hand, Hilton and Hendricks, with the assistance of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, attempted to locate Selas at his place of business, as well as his residence, but were unsuccessful.
Hilton and Hendricks were later informed by Selas’s wife Maria Magdalena Aranda Selas Szeles, that her husband had fled the area to parts unknown in their family vehicle. The following day, with the assistance of Texas law enforcement, Selas’s vehicle was located in a suburb of Dallas, Tex.
Further investigation verified that following his departure from the Dallas, area Selas fled the country to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in lieu of arrest.
Throughout the years following their initial investigation, Hilton and Hendricks, as well as other law enforcement officers at their direction, continued the search for Selas.
During this search, detectives learned of prior allegations levied against Selas in the early 70s, while employed at a school in Tokyo, Japan. It was also verified that following his return to the United States in the early 80s, Selas resided in multiple towns / cities across the country. These locations included but was not limited his hometown of Darien, Conn; South Royalton, Vt.; Chicago, Ill.; San Diego; Sheffield, Mass.; and Bonita, Calif.
Approximately two weeks ago, Detectives in conjunction with members of the United States Marshals Service, Western District-LA, Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force located Selas in Bonita, Calif.
They learned that following his return to the United States, Selas used various aliases to conceal his identity which included “Frank John Szeles”. His wife Maria also utilized the same alias last name and the two continued to reside together throughout the United States.
In approximately 1992, Selas legally changed his last name in San Diego County Calif. to “Szeles” in a further attempt to disguise his identity.
Upon verifying Selas’s home address, 3225 Casa Verde Court, Bonita, Calif., members of the United States Marshals Service, Southern District-CA, San Diego Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force immediately initiated 24 hours surveillance of the residence.
On Jan. 25, 2016, at approximately 1830 Hours C.S.T. [6:30 p.m., Central Time], members of the U.S.M.S. Violent Offender Taskforce Southern District-CA San Diego Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force took Selas into custody at his residence without incident.
Selas was later booked into the San Diego County Detention Center in reference to the warrants. Frank John Selas III A.K.A. Frank John Szeles, A.K.A. “Mr. Wonder” 76, of 3225 Casa Verde Court Bonita, Calif. is currently being detained at San Diego County Detention Center in lieu of extradition proceedings.
Detectives state their investigation is still ongoing and Selas may be arrested in reference to additional charges relating to this case as well as others in which he was suspected of like crimes.
Anyone with any information associated with crimes believed to be perpetrated by Frank John Selas III A.K.A. Frank John Szeles, A.K.A. “Mr. Wonder” are asked to contact Detective Stephen Phillips Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office at (318) 473-6727, Crime Stoppers at (318) 443-7867, or your local law enforcement.
Arrestee:
Frank John Selas III A.K.A. Frank John Szeles, A.K.A. “Mr. Wonder”, 76
3225 Casa Verde Court, Bonita, CA
Charges:
Two counts – Obscene Behavior With a Juvenile