Man on the run for 7 years, charged with child sexual abuse: Palatine PD

PALATINE, IL – A man who police believe fled the country seven years ago because he was accused of sexually assaulting a child has been arrested. Christian Castellanos-Merino, 32, of the 600 block of Constitution Drive, Palatine, is charged with aggravated sexual abuse and was arraigned Saturday.

Castellanos-Merino was released following his arrest and is due back in court on November 15.

Police said the arrest stemmed from an investigation in 2017 in which a teenage victim came forward to report the abuse. In 2017, Palatinate investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Castellanos-Merino, but suspected he had fled the United States.

On Saturday, police stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and found Castellanos-Merino driving the vehicle. Castellanos-Merino was taken into custody and charged with the outstanding warrant.