Six-Year Sex Offender Fugitive Arrested in Pueblo After Fleeing Indiana

Pueblo, CO -  Members of the United States Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF), working in coordination with local law enforcement partners, have arrested Robert Hartsock, who had been wanted out of the State of Indiana since 2019 for failure to register as a sex offender and probation violations.

Hartsock was previously convicted in Indiana of child seduction and sexual battery. After being sentenced and released from custody in 2019, he absconded from supervision and fled the state without permission. An arrest warrant was issued on October 18, 2019.

Hartsock was taken into custody on March 2, 2026, at approximately 8:35 a.m. in Pueblo following the development of investigative leads indicating he had been residing in the area after fleeing Indiana nearly six years ago. Investigators learned he initially relocated to Rye before later moving to Pueblo, where he had allegedly been living undetected and unregistered since that time.

The arrest was initiated after private citizens contacted Indiana authorities upon learning of Hartsock’s identity and outstanding warrant status. Indiana officials from the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office subsequently coordinated with the United States Marshals Service Sex Offender Coordinator in Colorado to locate and apprehend him. Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers from Fountain P.D., the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Colorado Dept. of Corrections, and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office safely arrested Hartsock in the 200 block of W Tenth St in Pueblo. He will remain in custody pending extradition proceedings back to Indiana.

U.S. Marshal, Kirk Taylor, for the District of Colorado stated, “This arrest underscores the importance of community awareness and strong partnerships between citizens and law enforcement. Thanks to vigilant individuals who did the right thing and contacted authorities; a fugitive who had been evading supervision for six years is now back in custody.”

The United States Marshals Service extends its appreciation to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Fountain Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Department of Corrections, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and collaboration in this investigation and arrest.

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country. The United States Marshals Service also works closely with state and local agencies nationwide to locate and apprehend fugitives who flee across state lines to avoid prosecution or supervision.

Through its network of 58 district task forces and 8 regional fugitive task forces, the agency remains committed to ensuring that offenders are held accountable — no matter how long they attempt to evade justice.

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