PUEBLO, Colo. (KOAA) — A wanted sex offender has been arrested in Pueblo by the U.S. Marshals Service's Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) and local law enforcement.
Robert Hartsock has been wanted out of the State of Indiana since 2019 for failure to register as a sex offender and probation violations.
He was previously convicted in Indiana of child seduction and sexual battery. After he was sentenced and released in 2019, he fled the state without permission. His arrest warrant was issued in October 2019.
He was taken into custody on Monday, March 2, in Pueblo after an investigation led to the information that Hartsock had been living in the area after leaving Indiana. Investigators learned that he initially relocated to Rye before moving to Pueblo, where he was living undetected and unregistered.
“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.”
COVOTF says the arrest was initiated after private citizens contacted Indiana authorities after learning of Hartsock's identity and warrant status.
Indiana law enforcement from the Hancock County Sheriff's Office coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service to find and arrest Hartsock.
Deputy U.S. Marshals, Task Force Officers from the Fountain Police Department, the CBI, the Department of Corrections, and the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office arrested Hartsock in the 200 block of W Tenth St in Pueblo.
He will remain in custody pending his extradition to Indiana.
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