Chicago FBI Press Office

Phone: (312) 829-1199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 10, 2008

LaSALLE COUNTY FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN GERMANY

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Brian L. Zeilmann, Chief of the Ottawa , Illinois Police Department (OPD) announced today the arrest of JUSTIN RAY SPARLIN, age 28, whose last known residence was in Ottawa , Illinois . SPARLIN was arrested over the weekend, without incident, by German authorities in the City of Heidelberg .

SPARLIN had been the subject of an international manhunt since being charged last month in a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP), which is a felony offense. According to the complaint, SPARLIN, who was home on leave from the U.S. Army, was suspected of sexually assaulting a 12-year old Ottawa girl on February 7th. After discovering the assault, the victim’s mother contacted the Ottawa Police Department, but SPARLIN fled before they arrived.

SPARLIN was later traced to a hotel in Chicago , were he had apparently stayed after fleeing LaSalle County , but was again able to avoid capture. Subsequent investigation revealed that SPARLIN boarded a flight at O’Hare International Airport on February 8th, which was destined for Rome .

SPARLIN was first taken into custody by German Police for assault, after responding to a disturbance call at a local bar. Through contact with the U.S. Army, it was determined that SPARLIN was Absent Without Leave (AWOL) from his unit at Ft. Hood , Texas . Further inquiry identified SPARLIN as being wanted in LaSalle County for the February 7th sexual assault.

SPARLIN’s case received extensive media coverage, and was profiled nationally on “ America ’s Most Wanted”. This media coverage was partially responsible for SPARLIN’s apprehension.

SPARLIN has been turned over to U.S. Military Police in Germany , who will arrange for his return to Ft. Hood . Afterwards, SPARLIN’s extradition to LaSalle County will be sought, where he will face local charges for the Sexual Assault of a Minor.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.