A man from California who was convicted of rape reportedly failed to register as a sex offender and spent 21-years hiding from the authorities under an assumed name in Florida.
In 1989, 53-year-old David Swenson was convicted of a forcible rape charge in Santa Clarita County. He was incarcerated until 1993, and when he was released he was ordered to register as a sex offender.
In 2000, the authorities reportedly noticed that Swenson had not registered, and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
In 2009, officers with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in Florida went to a residence in Spring Hill, and when they arrived they discovered a man in the attic. When they asked for his name, he reportedly identified himself as Kevin Crowley.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had been trying to find Swenson, and they believed he was residing in Hernando. They shared the information with the local authorities.
The police looked into the report and asserted that the man who said he was Crowley in 2009 was likely Swenson. They purported that he had been living in Florida to hide from the California authorities.
On May 25, the police reportedly had a conversation with Swenson’s spouse and asked her if the man lived in the home. The woman said that he did, but he was currently walking in a nearby park.
The sheriff’s office implemented their aviation unit, and a man fitting Swenson’s description was reportedly seen on a bike path close to the park.
When talking to Swenson about the allegations, the man reportedly admitted he was using a false identity to try to conceal himself from his criminal past on the West coast. The man allegedly said he had been in Florida for 21-years, but that it was time to stop hiding.
Swenson was arrested, and he is facing charges for failure to register as a sex offender.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a sex offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.