Child Offender Attempts to Flee Before Sentencing

A man managed to cut off his ankle monitor just before the final day of his trial for sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s daughter, leading to a tense situation. Sicco Jorge Campos, 42, was last seen attempting to leave the country but was caught at a bus stop, according to officials.

Campos was set to appear in court in Colorado on Friday after being found guilty of years of child abuse, as reported by the Colorado 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

After his failure to arrive for sentencing, authorities checked his home in New Castle, Colorado, only to discover that he had disposed of his ankle monitor in a trash can. That prompted a two-day search for him.

A tip eventually led to his arrest on Sunday at a gas station bus stop in Chaparral, New Mexico, not far from the U.S.-Mexico border.

During the weekend manhunt, a photo of Campos surfaced, showing him in a green shirt and black pants leaving a hotel in New Mexico. He carried a notably heavy black backpack, which seemed quite packed.

Details of when or where this photo was taken remain unclear.

Campos faces extradition to Colorado, where he will also be charged for fleeing and tampering with his ankle monitor.

He had already been convicted on five counts of “child sexual assault,” linked to ongoing abuse of his girlfriend’s daughter starting when she was just 11. The victim’s bravery during her testimony earned her commendations from court officials.

Assistant District Attorney Brynn Chase expressed hope that the upcoming sentence would provide the victim with justice and a restored sense of dignity. Initially, the victim’s mother had doubted her claims, thinking she was fabricating a story, but a hospital examination later confirmed the abuse.

Campos’ sentencing date has yet to be announced, but he could face life in prison.