Nicholas Vonwayne Prejean, 24, was arrested without incident around 6:30pm at a home in Houston by Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division agents, according to a DPS statement. Two other people inside the house also were arrested on unrelated misdemeanor warrants.
Prejean was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and probation violation. Investigators described him as a high-risk sex offender with a lengthy criminal history that includes aggravated sexual assault of a child, assault causes bodily injury and criminal mischief.
Authorities say they found Prejean after someone submitted a tip. That person will receive a reward of up to $3,000.
Last month, another sex offender on the state's most wanted list was captured. Michael Wayne Hopson was arrested March 12 while he ate lunch at a soup kitchen in Longview, Texas. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Gregg County Sheriff's Office.
So far in 2013, DPS and other agencies have arrested a total of 13 Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives and Sex Offenders, including five gang members. They say $20,500 in rewards has been paid for tips that resulted in arrests. The cash rewards are funded by the Governor's Criminal Justice Division.
Anyone with information can provide anonymous tips in four different ways:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)
- Text the letters DPS – followed by your tip – to 274637 (CRIMES) from your cell phone
- Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture
- Submit a Facebook tip at http://www.facebook.com/texas10mostwanted by clicking the "SUBMIT A TIP" link (under the "About" section)
DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives featured in the Texas 10 Most Wanted Program. To view the current lists – with photos – visit the DPS website at http://www.dps.texas.gov/texas10mostwanted/.
Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.
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