Deputies arrest fugitive

10 years ago

Deputies arrest fugitive

    WASHBURN, Maine — A man wanted by law enforcement is back in custody, thanks to a Crime Stoppers tip received on April 15, 2015.

“Wednesday afternoon, sheriff’s deputies arrested Robert Van Houten, 34, of Presque Isle, on the Washburn Road in Washburn. Van Houten was convicted of aggravated trafficking in cocaine and marijuana in January and was sentenced to seven years in prison, with all but three years suspended,” said Sheriff Darrell Crandall, of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Crandall, Van Houten was given a stay of execution by the court and was told to report to serve his sentence on Feb. 8, but chose not to show up.
“He has since been considered a fugitive and was indicted by the Grand Jury for failure to report to serve a sentence,” said the sheriff.
Crandall credits the public’s help in locating Van Houten.
“Sheriff’s deputies received a Crime Stoppers tip on Wednesday that Van Houten was in a gray Ford Ranger with another man in the Washburn area. Deputies stopped the vehicle and took Van Houten into custody without incident,” said Crandall.
Van Houten was transported to the Aroostook County Jail, where he remained at presstime.