HOUSTON (AP) - A man who fled his trial a day before being convicted in the repeated group sexual assault of an 11-year-old Texas girl was captured Tuesday, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eric McGowen was arrested after he was found in an apartment in northeast Houston, said Alfredo Perez, a spokesman for the Marshals Service. Information provided to the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force led officials to McGowen, said Perez, who declined to release further details.
Task force members arrested McGowen without incident and turned him over to Texas Rangers who were taking him back to Liberty County, where he was convicted, Perez said. Messages seeking additional details were left for a Liberty County Sheriff's Office spokesman.
Authorities had been searching for McGowen since he fled his trial Aug. 29, the same day the girl tearfully testified about the attacks in her hometown of Cleveland, about 45 miles northeast of Houston. The trial went on without him and McGowen was convicted the next day of aggravated sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 99 years in prison.
McGowen was one of 20 men and boys who authorities say repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl over a period of months in late 2010. He was the first defendant to stand trial in the case. Before his trial, all six juveniles and two of the 14 adults charged had pleaded guilty. Since McGowen's conviction, four other adults have pleaded guilty.
His disappearance was the latest twist in a case that divided the small town of Cleveland, both because of the horrific allegations and suggestions from some residents that the girl was partly responsible because of her appearance. Police began investigating after one of the girl's classmates told a teacher he saw video of her being sexually assaulted in an abandoned trailer.
Prosecutors' case against McGowen included a videotaped confession and testimony from nearly a dozen witnesses, including the girl, who is now 13.
JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Marshals capture man who fled rape trial
Related Stories
- More Texas News
- National News
- International News
- Senate passes budget, deal reached on education
- Texas man charged in deaths of mother, stepfather
- Official: Woman killed in San Antonio flooding
- Dozens rescued from flooded San Antonio area
- Texas authorities searching for escaped prisoner
- High-water rescues reported in San Antonio area
- Perry, Texas Legislature honor fallen soldiers
- Perry, Texas Legislature to honor fallen soldiers
- Jury convicts former South Texas DA of corruption
- No lesson plans means no state review for CSCOPE
- Search for pilot of NY Angel Flight resumes
- Judge denies Bulger's bid for name of informant
- Rescuers look for pilot in deadly NY Angel Flight
- Ex-Penn State assistant wants firing decision date
- Obama to tour tornado damage
- Indiana man dies in motorcycle collision in DC
- Ore. teen accused of planning to attack school
- Protesters across globe rally against Monsanto
- Mo. highway buckles after rail cars hit overpass
- Giffords, husband address graduates at Bard
- Oldest Everest climber returns safely from peak
- Opposition parties enforce strike in Bangladesh
- French soldier stabbed in throat outside Paris
- Huge crowd cheers Argentine leader's 10-year rule
- Suspected rebels kill 16, wound 25 in east India
- Roadside bomb kills 2 Yemeni soldiers
- Turkish couples kiss in subway in protest
- Iraq car bomb kills 6 Iranian pilgrims, 1 Iraqi
- Israeli official says Syria cyberattack foiled
- Ex-sex slave says Japan mayor's remark 'absurd'
Automotive
Find valuable information about buying your next car, including price quotes and your latest automotive news.
Wedding Central
The greatest Southeast Texas story ever told. Share your wedding and engagement news!
Lost and Found Pets
These are pets that have been lost or found in the KFDM News Channel 6 viewing area.
No Text Zone
Texting While Driving Kills Thousands of People Each Year. Many More are Seriously Injured. You Can Help Make Our Roads a NO TEXT ZONE
Texas Lottery
Texas Lottery
Community Calendar
Check out our Community Calendar!
Baby Talk
Baby Talk with Nicole Murray.
KFDM Channel 6 Top Stories
Business News
US durable goods orders rise 3.3 percent in April
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in April, buoyed by more demand for military and civilian aircraft and an increase in business investment.
Consumer News
BC-US--Dow Record-Three Personal Stories, 1st Ld-Writethru,1173
Dow Record: Three tales of ups, downs and changes
AP Photo FX102, FX103
Eds: With BC-US--Dow Record. Adds photos.
By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- When the Dow first crossed 14,000, investors were overjoyed. ...
Entertainment News
"HANGOVER 3"
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- All hangovers come to an end eventually, and so, too, "The Hangover" franchise.
Get This
Science/Tech News
IN THE NEWS: RESTAURANT FLAP LEADS TO INTERNET MELTDOWN
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- It isn't exactly to curry favor with your restaurant customers -- even if your specialty isn't curry.
