Paul Sandoval, a 62-year-old child rape suspect, was arrested on Sunday in Alamosa County, ending a five-day manhunt by federal, state, and local law enforcement, as reported by Denver 7. Sandoval, who evaded prosecution since he became aware of his warrant in March 2021, was located near Blanca Peak in southeastern Colorado, following a large-scale search operation coordinated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Alamosa County Sheriff's Office among other agencies.
Denver 7 detailed that Sandoval is accused of a harrowing crime involving an 8-year-old girl whom he allegedly tied up with a rope and violently raped in a shed on his property. The U.S. Marshals Service described these details in a release. The capture took place around 10:22 a.m. near Lake Como Road on Blanca Peak, and over 70 officers from diverse law enforcement bodies took part in the mission to apprehend the fugitive.
Alamosa County Sheriff Robert Jackson publicly acknowledged the crucial support provided by various departments in the manhunt, stating, "We want to express our gratitude and thanks to the U.S. Marshals Service and all of the other agencies involved that came to assist in this manhunt, we couldn't have done it without their help," as obtained by 9NEWS.
On the legal front, Sandoval now faces a felony sexual assault of a child charge, among other charges. From the expansive rugged terrain of Blanca Peak to the somber halls of justice, Sandoval's journey reflects a stark transition from fugitive to captive, a testament to the concerted effort of law enforcement entities underlining their commitment to bringing alleged perpetrators to face their accusations regardless, of the time elapsed, this case, in particular, spanned over years before reaching a pivotal point of arrest on Sunday, as noted by the Denver Gazette.
