The U.S. Marshals took John Ryan Stephens into custody on April 21, 2008 around 11:30 pm EDT in Holden, La. Stephens was wanted for Aggravated Rape, Aggravated Oral Sexual Battery and two counts of Indecent Behavior with a minor.
Stephens had been on the run for six years, after failing to show up for a scheduled court appearance on December 17, 2002. "America's Most Wanted" profiled Stephens on Saturday, April 19, 2008, along with 49 other fugitives from around the country.
On April 21, law enforcement officials received a tip that Stephens was hiding out in Holden, and had been spotted there over the weekend.
Brian Lucio with the Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force looked into the tip and determined that it was good information. The Marshals had also received calls placing Stephens in Holden after his photo appeared on digital billboards all over the Southern United States.
On Monday night, the Marshals, along with members of the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office Special Response Team, went to the location where the tipster claimed Stephens was hiding out.
Marshals say Stephens resisted arrest and refused to come out of the home on his own. He was taken into custody and is being held in the Livingston County jail. He will be transferred back to Ascension Parish where the alleged attacks took place.
Source:
Americas Most Wanted
Links:
John Stephens Case File on America's Most Wanted