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Fugitive featured on 'America's Most Wanted' sentenced
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
HAMILTON — A man apprehended in Costa Rica last month after being on the run since 2002 was sentenced today, June 3, in Butler County Court on charges of compelling sex from a detective he thought was a 15-year-old girl.
Hamilton detectives arrested Lonnie Ted Crabtree, 41, of Michigan, as a part of an undercover Internet operation sting in 2002. Police said Crabtree was a traveling predator looking for sexual relations on the Internet with underage girls.
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Crabtree was arrested for attempted compelling prostitution, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor child and importuning.
The judge sentenced Crabtree to six months in prison on the attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning charges. Those sentences are to be served concurrent.
But on the last charge of attempted compelling prostitution, Pater imposed another six month prison sentence to be served consecutive. He was also classified as a Tier 2 sexual offender and given a $500 fine on all three charges.
After his arrest, Crabtree posted bond and then failed to appear for a court date and was missing until early this year when he was arrested.
Last summer, the case appeared on "America's Most Wanted." The show received a tip that Crabtree was in Costa Rica. Hamilton police and the Butler County Prosecutor's Office notified Costa Rican officials, who located Crabtree.
He was apprehended on an immigration violation in Costa Rica and deported to the United States. Crabtree was taken into custody in Miami, Fla. in February on these charges. He pleaded guilty in March, according to court records.
Crabtree told Judge Charles Pater, "I am sorry for what I have done to my family."
Defense attorney Michelle Temmell said his client is a former pilot and has a relatively clean previous criminal record. She said the charges began when he started taking steroids while participating in kick boxing.
Crabtree said when he started taking steroids the drug changed him mentally leading to obsessive compulsive behavior.
