Convicted Child Molester Erik Kristian Moller Remains Wanted After Fleeing Before Sentencing
Convicted in California
Erik Kristian Moller, a convicted child molester, remains wanted after failing to appear for sentencing in San Luis Obispo, California, in 2003, according to information published by the FBI. Moller was convicted on December 18, 2002, of two counts of committing a lewd act upon a child following abuse that occurred over several years. He was released on bail while awaiting sentencing but failed to return to court.
Abuse Spanned Several Years
According to the FBI, the abuse occurred between 1997 and 2000, when Moller was regularly entrusted with the care of a female child. The victim was between the ages of 10 and 14 during the period described by authorities. Moller reportedly cared for the girl on an almost weekly basis, giving him repeated access to the child.
The criminal case ultimately resulted in Moller being convicted rather than merely charged with the offenses. A court found him guilty of two counts of a lewd act upon a child in December 2002. His disappearance occurred afterward, while he was awaiting the sentencing phase of the case.
Drugs and Alcohol Given to Victim
The FBI reports that Moller gave the child drugs and/or alcohol before molesting her. The conduct occurred while he had been entrusted to care for the victim, according to the FBI’s account. The abuse continued during a period when the girl was between 10 and 14 years old.
Authorities prosecuted Moller in California for his conduct, ultimately securing convictions on two counts. Following his conviction, he remained outside custody on bail until his scheduled sentencing. That decision preceded his disappearance and the subsequent fugitive investigation.
Failed to Appear for Sentencing
Moller was scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2003, in San Luis Obispo. He failed to appear in court, leaving authorities unable to immediately take him into custody to begin serving his sentence. The court proceeded with the case despite his absence.
Moller was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in state prison. His failure to appear meant that the sentence could not be immediately carried out. Authorities began seeking him as a fugitive shortly afterward.
Ten-Year Prison Sentence
Unlike cases involving defendants who flee before trial, Moller had already been convicted when he disappeared. His guilt on two counts of a lewd act upon a child had been established in court on December 18, 2002. The outstanding matter when he vanished was his sentencing and imprisonment.
The court imposed a 10-year state prison sentence despite Moller’s absence. He consequently remains wanted not only in connection with his disappearance but also to serve the sentence resulting from his convictions. His case has remained unresolved for more than two decades.
State and Federal Warrants
On March 19, 2003, one day after Moller failed to appear for sentencing, a felony bench warrant was issued after he was charged with failure to appear. Federal authorities subsequently became involved as investigators pursued the possibility that he had fled beyond California. The case soon resulted in a separate federal charge.
On April 24, 2003, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California charged Moller with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. A federal arrest warrant was issued for him in connection with that charge. The FBI has continued to seek information concerning his whereabouts.
Possible Travel to Dominican Republic
According to the FBI, Moller may have traveled from Miami, Florida, to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic during 2003. That possible journey is significant because it could establish an international route taken shortly after he failed to appear for sentencing. Information from individuals who encountered him in Florida or the Dominican Republic during or after that period may assist investigators.
The possible connection to Puerto Plata means the search for Moller extends beyond the United States. Information concerning residences, employment, travel, or associates in the Dominican Republic could potentially help authorities reconstruct his movements. Individuals with relevant information should provide it directly to law enforcement.
Ties to Denmark
Moller is also known to have ties to Denmark, adding another international connection to the fugitive investigation. Authorities may therefore be interested in information from individuals who encountered him in Denmark or know of travel between Denmark and other countries. His potential connections to Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States broaden the geographic scope of the case.
More than two decades have passed since Moller disappeared, meaning his current appearance could differ substantially from photographs taken around 2003. Information concerning identities, residences, employment, associates, or international travel may therefore be particularly useful. Authorities continue seeking credible information that could establish his current whereabouts.
FBI Seeks Information From the Public
Anyone with information concerning Erik Kristian Moller or his current whereabouts is encouraged to contact the FBI or appropriate law-enforcement authorities. Information concerning his possible 2003 travel from Miami to Puerto Plata, his ties to Denmark, or where he has lived since disappearing may be particularly relevant to investigators. Moller has already been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in state prison, and members of the public should not attempt to approach or apprehend him themselves.
