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 WASHINGTON – Nearly five years after charges were first filed on
Frederick
McLean, he is still running from the law. McLean, an alleged sexual
predator, is wanted in California on four counts of child molestation, one
count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and one count of
unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Authorities need the public’s help in getting McLean off the streets and
away from potential victims. Law enforcement officials say they have already
identified potentially 17 victims and additional charges could be filed
against McLean once he is in custody.
The U.S. Marshals believe his crimes are heinous enough to have earned him a
spot on the Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted fugitive list in 2006. Authorities
regard McLean as a high risk for committing additional sex crimes against
minors. Research on sex offender recidivism shows it is a variety of factors
that contribute to reoffending.
“McLean possesses many of the factors correlated with reoffense,” said Dr.
Michael Bourke, Chief psychologist for the U.S. Marshals Sex Offender
Investigations Branch, “and stress, including the stress that comes with
being a fugitive, increases the risk for abusive acting out.”
Fugitive McLean, 58, is wanted by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department on
multiple counts of sexual assault on a child, but according to the U.S.
Marshals “multiple counts” is an understatement. One alleged victim, now an
adult, reported McLean assaulted her more than 100 times, starting when she
was five and ending about seven years later.
McLean is deemed to be at high risk for engaging in sexual assault of young
girls, according to Bourke. However, he might also target young boys.
“This fugitive has evaded capture for nearly five years, but he needs to
know that we will never cease our efforts of hunting him down,” said George
W. Venables, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of California. “We are
absolutely resolute in our commitment to bringing in Frederick McLean to
face the charges brought against him.”
Several months ago, the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force
executed a search warrant and obtained new leads and updated photos on
Frederick McLean.
Authorities believe McLean gained access to many of his victims through his
leadership position in his local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses near
San Diego.
An arrest warrant was issued in January 2005, for McLean, but authorities
believe he sensed his days of freedom were numbered almost six months prior.
In May 2004, family members confronted McLean regarding a young female
victim’s allegations of molestation. McLean admitted they were true, and the
victim’s family called Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. After the
confrontation, McLean’s wife and children left him. He began liquidating
financial assets, and he signed divorce papers.
In September 2004, McLean’s father-in-law woke up one morning to find
McLean’s truck in his driveway. Inside the truck were McLean’s cell phone,
letters for the family and instructions on how to sell the vehicle. It was
evident from his actions that he believed criminal charges against him were
looming.
McLean is a 58-year-old white male who weighs 170 pounds and is 5 feet, 11
inches tall. He has hazel eyes and brown/gray hair – possibly all gray hair.
He is an auto mechanic by trade and once owned a racecar restoration
business, specializing in racing cars from the 1960s and 1970s. McLean is
also an experienced outdoorsman and may frequent camping areas. McLean’s
character traits include: being financially frugal, meticulous, organized,
and probably pays by cash. Investigators believe McLean may have assumed a
new identity and could be using an alias name.
Authorities caution citizens to consider McLean armed and dangerous, and
possibly suicidal.
There is a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of McLean,
and all inquiries remain confidential. Anyone with information is encouraged
to contact their nearest U.S. Marshals Service office, or call the Marshals’
24-hour phone line at 1-800-336-0102.
U.S. Marshals are the nation’s primary fugitive hunting organization.
Fugitive Task Forces led by the U.S. Marshals capture thousands of fugitives
each year. For more information on the U.S. Marshals and 15 Most Wanted
Fugitive Frederick McLean, go to
www.usmarshals.gov.
Wanted
Poster for Frederick McLean
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America’s Oldest Federal Law Enforcement Agency
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