This was a bizarre one because I had to deal with the American law enforcement agencies, its legal system and the time difference. In a case, which had echoes of the John Darwin canoe disappearance, a well-known Inverness character had faked his own death in America when he was facing a string of sex charges in the UK. In a dramatic turn of events he was found alive in the US and it was the start of a long and drawn out legal process to get him back to Scotland for his day in court.

IT is unclear how quickly an Inverness street trader can be returned to the UK to face a range of charges – including five of rape.

Kim Gordon (55), also known as Kim or Kem Avis, was reported missing after apparently going for a swim at Monastery Beach, Carmel, in California in February.

However on Friday the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office reported he had been found alive in the Colorado Springs area – hundreds of miles way.

He now faces extradition proceedings in the USA before he can be brought back to Scotland.

At the time of going to press there was no information available as to how long this process would take as a spokesman for his Scottish legal team said they were currently trying to get an idea of the likely time scale themselves.

An arrest warrant for Gordon was issued after he failed to appear for trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March.

Part of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office statement reads: “Back in February, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office received a report from Avis’s juvenile son that his father did not return from a swim at Monastery Beach.

“Many resources were used, including a Coastguard helicopter, a Sheriff’s Office drone and our dive team to search for Avis with no success.

“We continued to investigate the case and learned that Avis was out on bail for 24-felony sexual abuse charges pending in Scotland.”

Officers spoke with his ex-wife as part of the investigation and the statement added: “Last week, US Marshals were able to track him to Colorado Springs due, in part, to a report in March that Avis was spotted in Monterey County driving a newer white Ford van in the Big Sur area.

“Avis is being held by US Marshals until his extradition hearing in Colorado Springs scheduled for later this month.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said the force was aware of the weekend’s reports regarding Mr Gordon, a well-known figure in the Inverness area, and was liaising with the relevant authorities.

From the Inverness Courier on Tuesday, July 30, 2019.