Fugitive Sex Offender Back In Police Custody

Madison County, NY (WIBX) - A convicted sex offender is back in police custody after being on the run for several years. On March 27, 2009, Lawrence Austin was sentenced to serve six months in jail and five years of probation, after being convicted of First Degree Sexual Abuse. He was designated as a Level 3 Sex Offender by the court, because of his likelihood to re-offend.

However, officials say Austin left the state after he was released in July 2009. He was recently apprehended in Illinois by US Federal Marshals and returned to Madison County to face federal sex offender charges, including a felony for Violation of Probation. Officials say Austin also failed to register as a sex offender.