FBI Offers $20,000 for Colorado Fugitive Spotted in Wyoming

Federal agents are offering a reward of $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of Jose Del Carmen Garcia Martinez, a 62-year-old convicted sex offender who has been on the run since March. The FBI’s Denver office announced the reward on Tuesday, noting that investigators have spotted the suspect in both Wyoming and Utah after he fled Colorado. While the bureau has not specified a date or location for the Wyoming sighting, they believe Garcia Martinez may have escaped to Colombia, his country of birth and citizenship.

Garcia Martinez disappeared on March 24, 2026, on the first day of his jury trial in Arapahoe County, Colorado. He had been released on a $50,000 bond prior to the proceedings. According to the FBI, he disabled his court-ordered ankle monitor and rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Colorado license plate DEXD78 out of the state. A federal arrest warrant was issued on March 30, charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The underlying criminal case began on August 5, 2025, when Arapahoe County deputies responded to a report of sexual assault at a home in Centennial, a Denver suburb. The victim was a 15-year-old girl with disabilities. Prosecutors stated that her grandmother witnessed Garcia Martinez sexually touching the teenager, prompting the girl's mother to call 911. Investigators also found that the victim had reported a similar incident to her mother two years earlier, though police were never notified at that time.

Jurors in the Colorado trial found Garcia Martinez guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and one count of unlawful sexual contact with an at-risk child. All three charges are Class 3 felonies, meaning he could face a life sentence in prison. Despite the conviction, the defendant’s chair remained empty as the jury returned its verdict.

The FBI describes Garcia Martinez as 5-foot-8 and approximately 170 pounds, with brown eyes and dark hair that is turning gray. He is a dual citizen of Colombia and Spain and primarily speaks Spanish. The wanted notice lists several name variations, including Jose Delcarme Garcia-Martinez and Jose Del Carmen Garcia. Investigators warn he should be considered an escape risk.

Wyoming has become a focal point for catching fugitive sex offenders from other states. On October 7, federal marshals, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Carbon County Sheriff's Office captured Timothy Dan Thurston in Baggs. Thurston had been wanted in Colorado since 2024. Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas stated that the arrest sends a clear message that crossing state lines does not place anyone beyond the reach of justice.

Anyone with information about Garcia Martinez’s whereabouts can contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. The bureau is seeking up to $20,000 for information leading to his arrest.