A Castle Rock, Colorado, man who disappeared following his conviction for sexually abusing a child was arrested Sunday in Chaparral, New Mexico, according to authorities. Jorge Alberto Campos, 42, was apprehended near the U.S. border after failing to appear in court last Friday, the same day a jury found him guilty of five counts of sexual assault on a child.
Evasion and Apprehension
Campos’s absence from court prompted a search. Investigators later located his GPS ankle monitor and cellphone discarded in a dumpster near his Castle Rock residence. The 23rd District Attorney’s Office detailed his subsequent capture, stating a 911 caller reported Campos traveling on a bus bound for Mexico. Law enforcement arrested him Sunday at a gas station in Chaparral, New Mexico.
The incident highlights challenges in community supervision and offender tracking, particularly when individuals attempt to circumvent electronic monitoring devices. Despite Campos removing his GPS ankle bracelet, the combination of citizen vigilance and law enforcement efforts led to his swift apprehension, preventing a complete escape from justice.
Conviction Details and Sentencing
A jury convicted Campos of five counts of sexual assault on a child as part of a sustained pattern of abuse. The offenses involved his girlfriend’s daughter, with assaults occurring between 2021 and 2023, starting when the victim was 11 years old, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Campos faces a mandatory sentence that could result in life in prison for these crimes.
Campos’s initial arrest in May 2024 followed a report from a nurse at a Castle Rock hospital, who alerted police to a sexual assault victim receiving treatment. During the subsequent investigation, the victim disclosed to police that Campos had warned her not to inform her mother about the abuse.
Prior History of Flight
This is not Campos’s first attempt to evade legal consequences. Records from the 23rd District Attorney’s Office indicate that he previously avoided a jail sentence in a 2007 traffic case. He was not apprehended until more than a year and three months later in that instance. The recurrence of flight underscores a pattern of resistance to legal process.
Deputy District Attorney Brynn Chase, who prosecuted the case, acknowledged the victim’s resolve. “The courage this young woman showed in reporting the abuse and testifying in court cannot be overstated,” Chase stated in a press release. Senior Deputy District Attorney Abby Hegarty added, “Because of the victim’s extraordinary courage, a dangerous predator will be removed from the community—hopefully for many years to come.”
Campos’s capture demonstrates how integrated efforts, even after an electronic tagging device is compromised, remain critical for offender supervision. The case reinforces the reliance on multiple investigative tools and public assistance in ensuring accountability for severe crimes.
Source: Castle Rock man in custody after fleeing state before sexual assault conviction
Related Resources: Parole Electronic Monitoring Guide | GPS Monitoring for Domestic Violence Cases | Probation GPS Monitoring Guide
