U.S. Marshals Capture Texas Fugitive in Remote Oregon Wilderness

Austin, TX – Members of the U.S. Marshals-led Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force in coordination with Oregon State Police and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man Tuesday who was wanted for continuous sexual assault of a child in Bastrop, Texas.

Kenneth Wayne Leatherwood, 41, of Georgetown, was sought for failure to appear on an indictment for continuous sexual assault of two children. The superseding indictment was filed Dec. 2 in the 21st Judicial District Court, in the State of Texas.

On June 15, the Bastrop County District Attorney’s Office immediately requested assistance from the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend Leatherwood who failed to appear for trial. During the investigation, it was learned Leatherwood was a former correctional officer with law enforcement training.

The Austin-based task force initiated a fugitive investigation and requested assistance from the District of New Mexico, Roswell Division, after learning Leatherwood was employed in New Mexico. Investigative leads later determined Leatherwood had stolen his employer’s truck, which was recovered at the Lucas Lodge in Agness, Oregon on June 16 by the Curr County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities responded to Lucas Lodge where Leatherwood was reported to have fled from a cabin on foot into a heavily wooded area. During subsequent searches, authorities located a firearm, survival books, and personal belongings inside the cabin. The search also recovered a dog collar and a baseball cap believed to belong to Leatherwood near a river.

On June 18, the U.S. Marshals Service Investigative Operations Division designated the case as a Major Case and deployed personnel assigned to the Rapid Advancing Manhunt team to provide resources to support and assist the District of Oregon in locating Leatherwood.

On June 23, members of the U.S. Marshals Service Investigative Operations Division, the District of Oregon – Medford Division, and the Curry County Sheriffs Department located a secluded campsite in the wooded area. Leatherwood surrendered without incident in camouflage clothing and was taken into custody.

Leatherwood was booked into the local jail where he will await judicial proceedings and extradition back to Texas.

Members of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin: 

Austin Police Department - Tactical Intelligence Unit
Georgetown, Lakeway, Round Rock, and San Marcos Police Department
Hays, Travis, and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
Texas Department of Criminal Justice OIG (Office of Inspector General)
Texas Department of Public Safety
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. DHS/Homeland Security Investigations