A man suspected of sexually abusing multiple juveniles is in custody after initially fleeing from police.
Police arrested David Hojohn, 35, of Winooski, Thursday afternoon in Barre, one day after law enforcement had sought help from the public to locate him.
Hojohn is accused of sexually abusing three children, according to Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations, or CUSI.
He was arraigned Friday morning and is being held at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility without bond, according to police.
Winooksi Police reached out to CUSI, a special law enforcement unit that handles sex crimes, about reports of sexual abuse on Wednesday.
CUSI detectives and a Department for Children and Families social worker investigated the claims, and, according to police, an arrest warrant for Hojohn was issued based on the results of the investigation.
The warrant was for four counts of aggravated sexual assult of a child, one count of aggravated sexual assault, three counts of lewd or lascivious conduct with a child and two counts of lewd or lascivious conduct.
Prior to police responding, Hojohn fled the scene and threatened to commit suicide, CUSI said. Investigators asked the public to help locate him or his blue Kia Forte.
Thursday afternoon, Barre police officers, assisted by the U.S. Marshalls, arrested Hojohn at a Barre apartment complex.
Hojohn has a lengthy criminal record, including more than 50 prior arrests, according to police. He was on probation with the Department of Corrections at the time of his arrest. Previously, Hojohn has been convicted of four counts of simple assault, four counts of sale of cocaine, two counts of unlawful mischief, trespassing, possession of stolen property, grand larceny and violation of conditions of release.
Aggravated sexual assault of a child has a minimum penalty of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison plus a $50,000 fine. Lewd or lascivious conduct with a child brings a penalty of three to 15 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. Aggravated sexual assault with a victim younger than 13 years old and perpetrator older than 18 years old, has a penalty of an indeterminate life sentence.
