Fugitive Accused Sex Offender Found In Texas Trailer, Arrested

LUBBOCK, TX — A Hoffman Estates man wanted in connection with allegations of child sexual abuse was arrested Wednesday by the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service in Lubbock, Texas. Investigators believe he fled the state avoid apprehension following an investigation by the Lake Zurich Police Department, which resulted in two felony arrest warrants for the alleged , according to the sheriff's office.

Jeffrey W. Huckeby, 48, of the 1700 block of Kelberg Avenue in Hoffman Estates, was taken into custody in the 8400 block of County Road 6440, where he was found hiding in a trailer. He was taken to Lubbock County Detention Center and held pending an extradition hearing, according to the sheriff's office.

Huckeby was wanted on a pair of Lake County warrants – one for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and another for three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 13.

He's accused of touching his genitalia to the hand of a girl 12 years old or younger and touching the genitals of a girl under the age of 13 with a massager. The abuse took place on multiple occasions between March 2004 and April 2007, according to the warrants for his arrest warrants that were issued earlier this month.

The sheriff's office said the it was unable to locate Huckeby to serve the warrant, and authorities learned that he had probably fled to Texas to avoid arrest.

Lake Zurich Police Deputy Chief Bob Johnson said the investigation began in July 2005 with a report from the Illinois Department of Child and Family Cervices about a child who made comments suggesting sexual abuse had taken place.

At the time, Huckeby and four children were interviewed. He was a suspect, and the children are younger siblings of one of his acquaintances, but detectives were unable to confirm that a crime had taken place and the case was closed for lack of evidence in September 2005, according to Johnson.

Last month, the victim, now aged 17, showed up at the police station to describe the abuse, giving investigators probable cause to get a warrant to search Huckeby's Hoffman Estates home. Johnson said they found "crime-related evidence" and prosecutors approved warrants for his arrest March 8.

If convicted of all charges, Huckeby faces more than 80 years in prison, although police said more charges may be added.