Fugitive Captured After Three Years On The Run

A convicted sex offender who allegedly violated his parole and went on the lam for nearly three years was captured today near the Mexican border.

Regaberto Lopez, 61, of Palm Springs, was arrested by members of the Riverside County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement task force at the Calexico border crossing.

Lopez was convicted in January 2003 of sexual battery and assault involving clients of his massage therapy business and served four years in state prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Among the conditions of his parole was that he wear an ankle-monitoring device to track his movements.

“In August 2007, Lopez cut off his ankle-monitoring device and fled,” said D.A.’s office spokesman Michael Jeandron. “Lopez stopped all contact with his parole agent and failed to comply with his registration requirements as a sex offender.”

The ex-con was named to the county’s “Most Wanted Fugitive List” last July.

SAFE team investigators picked up his trail recently, thanks to a tip, according to Jeandron.

Lopez, who was living in Mexicali, Mexico, was contacted and convinced to meet U.S. law enforcement agents at the border around 11 this morning, when he was taken into custody without incident, Jeandron said.

He was being held without bail at the Indio Jail, facing parole violation charges. His first court appearance is expected Wednesday.