KAUAI, Hawaii, Nov, 28, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A former Utah Department of Corrections officer has been arrested in Hawaii after fleeing Utah following a forcible sexual abuse conviction here, officials said.
William Lawrence, 41, was arrested in Kauai while he was having lunch at McDonald’s, U.S. Marshals from the District of Utah said in a news release.
Lawrence had been on the run since 2006, when he was convicted of third-degree felony forcible sexual abuse and forcible sodomy, while working as a corrections officer for the Utah Department of Corrections.
U.S. Marshals said Lawrence used his badge to coerce a young girl into performing sexual acts, handcuffing her to the bed and forcing her to perform against her will. Authorities said Lawrence absconded before the sentencing hearing in Utah and was designated as being a fugitive for the past 11 years.
The U.S. Marshals took over the case from West Jordan Police in 2010.
Two marshals from the District of Utah flew to Kauai to arrest the fugitive. He was taken into custody without incident.
We needed this. Support and trust in the police is at an all time low. To know that after 11 yrs of freedom law enforcement still saw him as the predator, the deviant that he is goes a long way. As for hurting that young girl, I hope he gets at least 20 years.