A Texas man wanted by police for 18 years after being charged with a probation violation related to child sexual abuse was caught during a recent traffic stop, authorities said.
After nearly two decades as a wanted fugitive, Meltron Alberty was in League City on Saturday night, March 21, where he was pulled over for multiple “motor vehicle violations,” according to the city’s Police Department.
Alberty’s true identity was discovered after he gave a police officer fake ID during a traffic stop and was initially arrested for a traffic violation, the department said on Tuesday, March 24, in a statement.
Then, Alberty’s fingerprints and facial recognition technology revealed his true identity and that he had “two felony warrants out of Dallas County for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child – Violation,” police said.
“He was also placed on the fugitive sex offender list for failing to comply with registration requirements,” according to authorities.
Court records reviewed by ABC 13 Houston show that Alberty allegedly violated probation for child sexual abuse and that he was previously sentenced to 10 years of probation for sexual abuse allegations.
Alberty eventually told police he had been using a false name and had been evading authorities for about 18 years, police said.
He now faces charges of tampering with a government record, using forged/possession of identifying information, failure to comply with sex offender registration, and failure to identify as a fugitive from justice in addition to his previous charges in Dallas County, according to authorities.
Alberty’s court-appointed attorney did not immediately return calls Us Weekly’s request for comment on Thursday, March 26.
Court records show Alberty’s bond was originally set at $282,500.
On Wednesday, March 25, the state filed a request to increase its bond, according to a file reviewed by. Us.
According to the investigators, Anthony Lennon had been on the run for 13 years before the police were able to arrest him on charges of violent child sex. In the latest episode of Us Weekly’s Uncovered, investigative reporter Kristin Thorne revealed how Lennon allegedly managed to create a new life for himself and the name Uncovered while he was unemployed. […]
“There is a good and sufficient reason for the increase [Alberty’s] responsibility,” the Galveston County Criminal District attorney Kenneth A. Cusick it was argued in the file.
“Alberty is currently in custody for sexual assault in Dallas Co. and has a pending fugitive warrant,” the paper continued. “For this reason, [Alberty] he is a flight risk, and the current bond is not sufficient for him to appear in court.”
In an additional bond order for Alberty dated March 25, the judge ruled that he will have to wear a GPS monitoring device when he is released from prison and must surrender his passport.
A hearing on the state’s request to raise Alberty’s bond was held Thursday, March 26, records show.
He will next appear in court at a conference scheduled for May 11.
