Newport fugitive charged with abusing two girls arrested

Newport, Ore. – A Newport man who spent 19 years on the run after being charged with sexually assaulting two young girls is behind bars.

Portland NBC affiliate KGW reports in May of 1997, then 24-year-old Eric Francisco DeCleve was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl.

After he posted bail from Lincoln County Jail, DeCleve fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution.

An investigation determined DeCleve was working as a surfing instructor in Cancun, Mexico.

KGW reports that DeCleve was captured and flown back to the U.S. on June 10^th.

Read KGW’s full report HERE.