NEWS UPDATE: Convicted child molester fugitive, known to frequent Fallbrook in past, found dead

SAN DIEGO - San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has announced that convicted fugitive child molester Joseph Vincent McCarron, 58, who failed to appear for his sentencing hearing, was found dead on November 30. The discovery ended a potential threat to public safety during a more than two-week manhunt by law enforcement.

The defendant, who had been known to frequent Fallbrook, had been convicted of sexually abusing the daughters of a woman he dated during a jury trial of 11 counts of child molestation on November 14. The jury also convicted the defendant of multiple-victim special allegations on each count, making the mandatory punishment for each count 15 years-to-life. The maximum punishment the defendant could have received was 165 years-to-life.

The defendant had been released after posting $500,000 cash bail soon after his case was issued and remained free on bail as he awaited sentencing. The defendant willfully failed to appear for the reading of the verdicts in his case on November 14, and the Fugitive Task Force of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department began searching for him.

The defendant’s body was found in the wooded area behind a park in Carlsbad and was recovered by the Carlsbad Police Department. The San Diego County Medical Examiner positively identified the body as that of the defendant in a written confirmation provided to the District Attorney’s Office. The Medical Examiner has not released the official cause of death.

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Fugitive sought is man from Fallbrook area with convicted child abuse background

SAN DIEGO – A no-bail arrest warrant has been issued for convicted child-abuse subject Joseph Vincent McCarron. On Nov. 13, McCarron failed to appear for his trial verdict in Vista Superior Court, and was convicted on 11 counts of PC 288(a) – Lewd and Lascivious with a Child under 14 Years.

McCarron was a resident of Fallbrook, and is known to frequent the Fallbrook and Rainbow areas.

He is described as a Caucasian male, born Dec. 10, 1954, height: 5' 7", weight: 160 pounds, with reddish brown/thinning hair, and brown/hazel eyes.

He drives a 1993 green Honda Accord, California license plate 3ELK383.

McCarron is believed to be armed and dangerous. Residents are advised to not take action if McCarron is seen, but call 911.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the San Diego Sheriff's Department or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.