A man who was arrested in Arizona and is currently being held in custody is a male who was accused of raping a minor in the state of Washington in 2009.
Robert Jennings Vandivier, who was 34 years old at the time of his arrest, was taken into custody in Mesa on July 2 after being on the run for more than a decade, according to officials from Stevens County, Washington.
When Washington State police got “credible information” in June 2009 that Vandivier was pregnant a female who was 14 years old, the investigation was initiated, according to the officials.
The results of the DNA test indicated that Vandivier was the father of the child, the officials said, after the victim gave birth later that year.
Consequently, in November of 2012, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Vandivier; however, the detectives thought it “too late,” as the culprit had already disappeared by that time, according to the officials. Members of the United States Marshals Service were able to locate and seize Vandivier at an apartment complex in Mesa one month after several agencies in Stevens County collaborated to “develop a strategy” in June of this year. Vandivier was taken into custody.
As stated by Erika George, the prosecuting attorney for Stevens County, “This is a case in which the allegations are of a 14-year-old child becoming pregnant, charged by this office in 2012 — at which time the defendant fled the jurisdiction, and the case has been outstanding for more than a decade,” the statement was released by the prosecuting attorney.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to finally seek justice for these crimes, as the defendant had previously been able to effectively escape law enforcement.
The United States Marshals Service and the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office have “amplified their efforts” to apprehend dangerous fugitives around the county in recent months, as stated in a statement that was published on social media on Monday of last week.
Mr. Brad Manke, the Sheriff of Stevens County, issued a statement in which he said, “Our relationship with the United States Marshals Service has been outstanding for decades, particularly when apprehending violent fugitives who have fled to avoid prosecution.” “We are looking forward to maintaining this relationship and bringing decisions regarding cases of this nature to a successful conclusion.”
Allegations of rape of a child in the third degree have been brought against Vandivier.