A child sex offender, who allegedly faked his abduction over a decade ago to dodge criminal charges, has been apprehended at an upstate New York college where he enrolled under an alias, authorities announced last week.
Anthony Lennon, listed among Oklahoma’s “10 Most Wanted Fugitives,” was taken into custody on October 30 after authorities learned he was attending the State University of New York. Officials at SUNY indicated he was using the name “Justin Phillips.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond remarked, “He has eluded justice for too long, and now he will face the consequences of his actions.”
The 44-year-old is a repeat offender, having been first convicted in 2008 for possession of child pornography after a friend found a substantial amount of disturbing material on his computer. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail but faced additional charges for child pornography possession in 2012 and was later released under supervision.
Things took a dramatic turn when police attempted to arrest Lennon at the motel where he worked. He allegedly staged what appeared to be a kidnapping scene, going to great lengths to leave behind false evidence suggesting he had been abducted, according to the Moore Police Department.
The night before his scheduled arrest, the motel owner reported Lennon missing, claiming he hadn’t been seen since March 11, 2012. Officers found various clues at the scene, including blood and personal belongings, which led them to believe the situation was suspicious.
Lennon had withdrawn all funds from his account prior to vanishing, managing to evade capture for 13 years despite multiple reported sightings across states from North Carolina to Texas.
During this time, he successfully acquired a state ID, a birth certificate, and enrolled in the State University of New York at Canton as “Justin Phillips.” He even made attempts to obtain a passport, as per the complaint.
A representative from SUNY Canton informed that he was suspended and prohibited from campus the day after his arrest.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Lennon was arrested while presenting a false name. However, his fingerprints confirmed his identity. He was a full-time student in the engineering science program and resided off-campus.
The university’s spokesperson mentioned that all records indicated he had been registered solely under the name “Justin Phillips.”
