Manhunt for alleged child rapist on Colorado 14er ends, suspect arrested
A man evading arrest for more than four years after allegedly sexually assaulting his girlfriend's 8-year-old daughter was captured Sunday during a search on a Colorado mountain.
Paul Sandoval was taken into custody just before 10:30 a.m., according to the U.S. Marshals Service. He was found near Lake Como Road, a rough backcountry access route to Blanca Peak. Sandoval was believed to be hiding on the southwestern slopes of the mountain following a recent sighting.
Paul Sandoval left the Alamosa County area after a judge granted a warrant for his arrest in April 2021, according to online court records. In a press release distributed Friday, the Marshals Service indicated Sandoval recently returned and was spotted earlier in the day. He was armed.
Interest in his whereabouts was renewed in August following a pair of break-ins in Alamosa County.
The search for Sandoval was referred to as an active manhunt. It lasted five days. More than 70 personnel from federal, state, and local law enforcement participated.
"We want to express our gratitude and thanks to the U.S. Marshals Service and all of the other agencies involved that came to assist in this manhunt. We couldn't have done it without their help," said Alamosa County Sheriff Robert Jackson.
Sandoval, reportedly asked by his girlfriend in March 2021 to babysit her daughter, allegedly tied up the young girl with rope and raped her in a shed on the property. He faces eight charges of sexual assault on a child, false imprisonment, and child abuse.
A new court date on the charges has not been set.
The operation which led to Sandoval's arrest consisted of personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, Alamosa County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado Department of Corrections, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Boulder Police Department, Englewood Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff's Office, Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Blanca Peak is the fourth-highest peak in Colorado at 14,350 feet in elevation.
