Oklahoma Fugitive Caught After 13-Year Manhunt, Faces Charges

UPDATE: After an intense 13-year manhunt, authorities have apprehended Anthony Lennon, a fugitive listed on Oklahoma’s 10 Most Wanted. Lennon was captured outside a grocery store in Canton, New York, marking a significant breakthrough in a case that has haunted law enforcement for over a decade.

U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Oklahoma, Johnny Kuhlman, confirmed the arrest, stating, “Let’s just say that he’s been very good at evading justice.” Lennon, originally convicted in 2008 for possession of child pornography, was sentenced to probation but later violated that probation by accessing a computer.

In March 2012, the situation escalated when the Moore Police Department discovered additional child pornography on Lennon’s electronic devices, leading to eight felony charges against him. Moore Police Chief Todd Gibson stated, “Our worst fears were confirmed,” emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations.

Lennon’s elaborate evasion tactics included staging his own robbery and kidnapping from the Super 8 Motel where he worked. District Attorney Jennifer Austin explained, “We never believed that Mr. Lennon was deceased… We believed he was trying to evade capture.” For over a decade, investigators tracked him across the country, with leads pointing to various aliases in upstate New York.

Local Deputy U.S. Marshals, along with the New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, finally closed in on Lennon, leading to his arrest on [specific date not provided]. He is now facing federal charges for failing to register as a sex offender, alongside the previously mentioned counts of possession of child pornography.

Austin noted that additional charges may be forthcoming as authorities collaborate with federal partners to determine the next steps in prosecution. “We will have to work together with our partners in the federal system to determine basically who gets to go first,” she remarked.

Currently, Lennon is in custody in New York, awaiting a judicial decision on his extradition back to Oklahoma. This arrest not only brings closure to a long-standing investigation but serves as a reminder of the persistent efforts of law enforcement to ensure justice is served.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.