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Long-hunted molester gets 560 years in prison

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 14, 2012

PHOENIX - A man dubbed by “America’s Most Wanted’’ as one of the most prolific child molesters in Arizona history was sentenced yesterday to 560 years in prison for abusing eight boys.

Arthur Leon Vitasek, 47, was sentenced by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Reinstein after being found guilty in November of 26 counts that included sexual conduct with a minor, child molestation, and public sexual indecency.

The charges stem from the molestation of eight boys from 7 to 15 years old in Phoenix and the suburbs of Paradise Valley and Mesa over a 15-year period beginning in 1990. Police suspect there are more victims.

Vitasek often targeted financially struggling single mothers, helping them with material items and showering their sons with gifts and attention, authorities said.

“This guy was a true classic predator,’’ Mesa police detective Steve Berry said yesterday. “You do want to get a maximum sentence on someone like that. You don’t want him to get another opportunity to hurt a child.’’

Vitasek was arrested in Texas in September 2006 after being on the lam for more than 18 months. “America’s Most Wanted’’ featured him on the program many times before his arrest.

Police in the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie arrested Vitasek after a 16-year-old boy reported that Vitasek sexually assaulted him after they met on the Internet.

Grand Prairie police said that Vitasek was using a different name, Rich Loper, and that he admitted his real name only after a detective recognized him and repeatedly questioned him about his identity.

Vitasek told police that he was tired of being a hunted man.