JUST HOW COLD WE EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO BE TONIGHT AND JUST HOW LONG WE EXPECTED TO STICK AROUND. >> BREAKING NEWS AT 11, A CONVICTED OFFENDER ACCUSED OF BRINGING A TEENAGE BOY ONTO HIS BOAT IS BACK IN CUSTODY, ACCUSED OF TRYING TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY TO CUBA. THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS WHARTON BORN IS NOW IN THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY JAIL FOR HIS CHARGES HE IS FACING HERE BACK IN DECEMBER. LEE COUNTY DEPUTIES SAY A MISSING 17 YEAR-OLD PADDLE BOARDER WAS FOUND WAS BORN DRUNK AND HIGH ON A SAILBOAT NEAR FORT MYERS BEACH. BORN HAD FAILED TO APPEAR IN COURT EARLIER THIS YEAR. TH
Lee County fugitive arrested in Cuba while trying to flee the US
Updated: 3:37 PM EDT Mar 17, 2026
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, the LCSO said.The 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 said that his boat had run out of fuel and requested assistance to continue his trip, the LCSO said. He was detained on a failure-to-appear warrant.”I also want to note that for Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, he was one of our top ten that we were looking for most wanted. So again, you can run. You can’t hide,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno. Bourn was extradited 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.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
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, the LCSO said.
The 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 said that his boat had run out of fuel and requested assistance to continue his trip, the LCSO said. He was detained on a failure-to-appear warrant.
“I also want to note that for Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, he was one of our top ten that we were looking for most wanted. So again, you can run. You can’t hide,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
Bourn was extradited 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.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.