Man disconnects ankle monitor, sexually assaults 3 teens while on the run, officials say
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A Washington man has been taken into federal custody Thursday after disconnecting his electronic monitoring device to allegedly assault two teens in Washington and one in Oregon earlier this year, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.
Court documents allege registered sex offender 27-year-old James Harrison Newcomer was wearing the electronic monitoring bracelet as a part of his 30-month sentence for two counts of child rape.
However, on Jan. 19, the ankle monitor disconnected and when officers went to arrest Newcomer almost a week later, they could not find him.
The documents further state that, over the next three months on the run, Newcomer allegedly contacted three teen girls on Snapchat, arranged to meet them in person, gave them drugs and alcohol, then sexually assaulted them.
The three victims were from Snoqualmie, Auburn in Washington and Woodburn, Oregon, ranging in age from 14 to 16.
Newcomer made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon at the U.S. District Court in Seattle.
Should Newcomer be convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.