Child sex offender on the run arrested in Salinas
UPDATED Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 5:40 p.m.:
Three days after being spotted in Salinas, a Missouri fugitive sex offender was arrested at Walmart Saturday morning.
Officers say they received a call from a shopper who identified James Piel, 38.
Police arrived at the Walmart on North Main Street and confirmed Piel’s identity.
Officers arrested him just before 10 a.m. and took him to the Monterey County Jail.
Piel is expected to be extradited to Missouri.
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A child sex offender is on the run from Missouri and was last spotted in Salinas on Wednesday, according to California Highway Patrol.
Officers said Jason Piel, 38, is wanted for domestic assault, failing to register as a sex offender and robbery. Piel was seen jumping out of a car at Heritage Garden Apartments near Main St. and Russell Rd., according to CHP.
Piel’s girlfriend Yolanda Goodwin jumped into the driver’s seat and got away until she was arrested a short time later, CHP said. Goodwin was taken to the Monterey County Jail.
According to KCTV, the CBS affiliate in Kansas City, Piel was convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in 2002.
Officers said a bail bondsman in Missouri contacted CHP, notifying them of Piel’s whereabouts after pinging his cell phone.
Anyone with information on Piel is asked to call police.
