09/09/2002

Associated Press

A former Salem resident wanted on several sex-related charges was arrested this weekend in Georgia after his case was featured on "America's Most Wanted."

After the program aired on Saturday night, a Florida couple called the show's information hotline to say that the man was managing a vacation cabin in Gainesville, Ga.

Sheriff's deputies in Forsyth County, Georgia then arrested James Ross Fischer, 45, at about 1:35 a.m. Sunday in Gainesville, according to Albany police.

Fischer was originally arrested on Feb. 12, 1999, on two counts of rape, one count of sexual abuse and one count of sodomy, Albany police said. The charges stemmed from incidents alleged to have occurred with a 15-year-old Corvallis girl he had met via the Internet.

The case was scheduled to go to trial in November 1999 but Fischer left the state, Albany police said.

He was arrested on April 26 in Fannin County, Ga., and was slated for extradition to Oregon in June. Before he could be extradited, however, Fischer escaped from the Fannin County Jail, according to Albany police.

In addition to the original charges, Fischer has been charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and escape.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)