A Rhode Island fugitive convicted of sex assault who evaded capture for two decades was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on his sailboat off the coast of New York. Ronald L. Fischer, 70, was located on his 56-foot vessel, named "The Silver Lining," approximately one hour offshore on Thursday.
Fischer had been a fugitive since 2005, fleeing Rhode Island during his criminal trial in Newport for the alleged rape of a woman on his yacht two years prior. He disappeared days before closing arguments, informing his attorney that he intended to leave the U.S. to live abroad, according to reports. Fischer, who maintained his innocence, wrote in an email at the time that he expected acquittal but wished to avoid the potential for "extremely and unacceptably harsh penalties."
Despite his absence, the trial continued, and Fischer was convicted of first-degree sexual assault in absentia. He was wanted on warrants for failure to appear, first-degree sexual assault, and flight to avoid prosecution. Throughout his time on the run, Fischer was featured multiple times on the television program "America's Most Wanted."
US Marshals Service agents gathered intelligence on Fischer's location over a 48-hour period, leading to his interception at sea. Described as a "master yachtsman, world traveler, and being internationally connected," Fischer utilized more than a dozen aliases, including Richard Graydon, which was the name under which "The Silver Lining" was registered.
"You can run, but you cannot hide from justice," said Charles Calenda, First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, in a statement. "Ronald Fischer will now return to Rhode Island to face the consequences he sought to evade for more than 20 years." Rhode Island US Marshal Wing Chau added, "This arrest demonstrates that time does not erase accountability. We hope today’s arrest brings a measure of justice and long-awaited closure to the victim and everyone impacted by these crimes."
Fischer was taken into custody without incident. He was initially brought to Staten Island before being transferred to Manhattan, where authorities will determine whether he will appear in federal court for absconding or be sent for an extradition hearing back to Rhode Island to face the original charges.