FBI Most Wanted Child Predator in Montco, Bucks Arrested In England

A convicted child predator from Montgomery County who was on the FBI's Most Wanted Fugitives list was arrested in England, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Gerard Zalewski, 33, skipped bail prior to a 2006 sentencing hearing in Montgomery County for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, authorities said. He hasn't been seen since. He was arrested for a similar crime in Lancashire, England, and was sentenced to 12 years in jail there on Wednesday, according to the Lancashire Constabulary police.

“The FBI notified us today that Zalewski was sentenced today in England for committing a similar sexual crime against a child,” said DA Kevin Steele. “Once the defendant serves his time in England, we want him back to lock him up. This violent predator will be off of the streets for a very long time.”

Zalewski was originally investigated in Montgomery County in 2004, when he was 21, after he had several sexually explicit internet conversations with an undercover detective posing as a 12-year-old, the DA said. Zalewski arranged to meet with the "child," and was arrested on August 15, 2004, authorities said.

Later in the investigation, it was determined that he'd had sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl from Bucks County. After failing to appear to his sentencing hearing on March 29, 2006, he was sentenced to 5 to 20 years in state prison.

In June of 2016, Zalewski arranged to meet a 13-year-old girl in a park in Lancashire, England, according to authorities. According to the DA, Zalewski taped the girl's mouth with masking tape, put a dog collar around her neck, and wrote the words "rape me" on her leg. He was finally arrested on June 21.

Image courtesy Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.