Grayson County child abuse suspect back in North Texas jail after decades on the run
SHERMAN, Texas - A Grayson County man who was accused of sexually abusing a child nearly two decades ago is finally behind bars in North Texas.
The Grayson County District Attorney’s Office said 49-year-old Anthony Rae was arrested in Val Alstyne on multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child back in 2003.
Anthony Rae (2003 and current)
But after posting bond in 2004, Rae disappeared. He never showed up for his trial.
He was gone for nearly 20 years.
"I'm standing here with the U.S. marshals from the Eastern District of Texas and the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security, there is no length we will not go to to make sure that people are returned to face justice if you commit an act of violence against a child in Grayson County," said Grayson County DA Brett Smith.
Investigators with the DA’s office renewed their search for him in 2018 using new technology. An international taskforce, including a Grayson County investigator, found him in Britain using the name Tony Campbell. He was arrested in Scotland in 2020, but fought extradition by claiming the Texas prison system is inhumane.
London lawyers argued conditions in the Texas prison system were dangerous to inmates and did not meet international human rights standards in the housing and care of prisoners.
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"We fought over COVID, we fought over the size of jail cells in Texas, we fought over the temperature in the Texas prison system. Everything that they could fight to avoid extradition - for him to avoid coming back to face these charge they threw it at us," said Smith.
After three years of legal battles, Rae is now back in the United States and the Grayson County jail on Saturday.
The victim, who is now grown, was beside herself when she learned the man charged with violating her multiple times was actually back in jail in Grayson County.
"I have been in constant communication with her and probably the first thing she told me is she didn't think anyone remembered this case, and it brought tears to my eye," said Smith.
All appeals to British Supreme Court and the European Commission on Human Rights were denied.
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"It's a testament to the investigators who started this," said Lester Hayes, the Special Agent In-Charge with Homeland Security Investigations. "It's been 20 years and a lot of people who've started this are now retired, or they've moved on, so their attention to detail is the proof that we can now bring this gentleman back, and now he has to face charges. We have the opportunity now to have closure."
The Grayson County District Attorney tells FOX 4 he wants to move to trial as quickly as possible.
While justice has been delayed, Smith said Rae's return to Texas means it will not be denied.