BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Federal agents have joined the search for a convicted sex offender who has been on the run for nearly four years.
Michael Rucker, 36, of Baltimore, is wanted by authorities in Baltimore City and Baltimore County for failure to properly register as a sex offender.
ALSO READ | BPD officer arrested, charged with rape after DNA links him to Edgewood sexual assault
Back in 2018, Rucker was arrested and later convicted in connection to a sex offense involving a 14-year-old girl.
According to court documents, in June of that year the victim’s mother contacted police and reported Rucker, who was a family friend and 28-years-old at the time had had sex with her 14-year-old daughter.
The mother also reported after learning of the incident Rucker threatened her with a gun when she went to his family’s home in Cherry Hill to confront him on the allegation.
In court documents investigators wrote the mother reported Rucker,
… withdrew what she believed to be an unknown caliber handgun from a drawstring bag, pointed it at her, then told her he was going to kill she and (the victim). And that he was not going back to jail.”
The mother said Rucker then began chasing her, forcing her to hide in a dumpster where she called 911.
Investigators interviewed the victim, Rucker’s family members and then seized the car where the alleged sexual assault occurred as Rucker was reportedly driving the victim to school.
Two months later, investigators obtained another warrant to collect Rucker’s DNA at the Child Abuse Unit on North Charles Street to compare that to evidence recovered from inside the car.
According to court documents, during an interview Rucker initially told detectives the allegations were false.
Specifically, writing, “As the interview progressed, that narrative changed.”
Investigators wrote Rucker later admitted to some form of sexual contact.
He was arrested and later convicted of a felony third-degree sex offense, as well as a probation violation from a previous conviction.
Rucker was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years’ supervised release.
Records show a judge suspended five years of that sentence.
Rucker was also required to register as a sex offender.
Investigators said Rucker ended up not having to serve his entire suspended sentence and was released a few years later.
But, trouble quickly followed Rucker.
Records show in January 2022 Rucker was convicted of misdemeanor assault that had reportedly occurred in Howard County in 2010.
Months later, in April 2022 he was accused of failing to properly register as a sex offender as part of his conditions for supervised release in Baltimore City.
Rucker is said to have violated the terms again in October 2022.
A warrant was issued for his arrest.
ALSO READ | Top fugitive wanted in viral cell phone killing found in Maine, agents say
Court records show that same month Rucker was charged with two counts of misdemeanor theft in the Towson area of Baltimore County.
Records show Rucker failed to show up for trial later that year, and in December 2022 a warrant was issued for his arrest.
That warrant remains open and active meaning Rucker is wanted in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
On the sex offender registry Rucker is listed as possibly homeless and known to frequent the Lexington Market area including West Lexington and North Eutaw Streets.
This individual has been hard to locate because he’s known to be transient,” Al Maresca, Senior Inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service, said.
A deeper dive into Rucker’s criminal history shows his criminal past dates back to when he was at least 18-years-old with misdemeanor drug arrests in Baltimore City in 2008 and 2009.
Records show in 2010 he was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder, armed robbery, and robbery in Baltimore City. The State’s Attorney’s Office confirms that case was never prosecuted.
In 2012, records show Rucker was arrested on felony drug charges and later convicted of CDS Possession with Intent to Distribute.
Six years later, Rucker was accused of a sex crime involving a minor that landed him on the sex offender registry, and now wanted for failing to properly register and violating the terms of his probation.
“Any time you have an individual who is involved in a sex crime, there’s a concern for public safety,” Maresca said. “That concern is ultimately elevated when you realize that the underlying offense conduct was committed against a minor under the age of 16. And for this reason, we’re turning to viewers of Maryland’s Most Wanted. We hope to locate this fugitive, take him into custody, and make sure he’s held accountable.”
Anyone with information concerning Rucker’s arrest is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058.
Local Story
