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Cook County man accused in juvenile sexual abuse case arrested after 7 years on the run

By Nic Flosi
Published  October 1, 2024 3:58pm CDT
Palatine
FOX 32 Chicago

The Brief

    • Cristian Castellanos-Merino, 32, was arrested in Palatine on a 2017 warrant for aggravated sexual abuse.
    • He was discovered during a routine traffic stop and released after a detention hearing.
    • His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 15.

COOK COUNTY - A 32-year-old Palatine man wanted for sexual crimes against a juvenile since 2017 was finally arrested last month.

Cristian Castellanos-Merino was pulled over by Palatine police for a traffic violation on Sept. 28. Officers learned he had an outstanding warrant for aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony, tied to an incident involving a juvenile victim reported in 2017.

According to police, it was believed Castellanos-Merino had fled the United States after detectives secured the arrest warrant. His whereabouts had been unknown until the traffic stop.

Castellanos-Merino appeared in court on Monday, was released, and is due back on Nov. 15.

Cristian Castellanos-Merino | PPD

The Source

  • The information in this article was provided by the Palatine Police Department.