Escapee Sex Offender From Austin Captured in New Mexico

A convicted sex offender who escaped a halfway house last week and was on the Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list was captured Friday morning in Albuquerque N.M.

Fernando Thompson, 57, was wanted for felony failure to comply with civil commitment requirements after he removed his ankle monitor on Nov. 24 and ran from an East Austin halfway house, The Texas Department of Public Safety said.

An Albuquerque Police Department officer arrested Thompson after a random stop at about 3:00 a.m. on Dec. 4. The arrest was not a result of a tip, so no reward will be given.

Thompson was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Sexual Assault for incidents in Jefferson County in the early 1980s. The two female victims were 15 years old and 20 years old. He was sentenced to a 30-year sentence and 20-year sentence for the two sex crimes, to be served concurrently in TDCJ prison. In June 2005, Thompson was required to participate in the civil commitment program.

So far in 2015, 29 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives and Sex Offenders have been arrested, including 20 sex offenders.