Douglas County's most-wanted fugitive is under arrest in Florida Wednesday.

John Joseph Turner, 27 (pictured, left), was arrested Dec. 17 in Tampa, Fla., Douglas County authorities announced Wednesday.

Turner had been sought since he failed to appear in court in August 2001. He is suspected of fondling nine young boys between November 1997 and January 2000, and was charged with 38 counts related to sexual assaults on children.

Investigators said that between November 1997 and January 2000, Turner was employed as a private contract children's day-care worker at Buffalo Ridge Elementary School, in Castle Rock, Colo. In his position at the school, Turner worked as the director of school-age programs where he was responsible for kids between 5 and 12 years of age. He also supervised their activities in before and after school day-care programs. Prior to his assignment at the school, Turner held similar duties for the same private company at Franktown Elementary School, also in unincorporated Douglas County. It was during these jobs, investigators said, that Turner allegedly fondled young boys.

Two weeks before the first allegations were made against Turner in January 2000, he resigned his position with the day care program to begin attending the Arapahoe Community College police academy program.

On April 5, 2000, after a four-month investigation, Turner was arrested for the crimes related to sexual assault on children. He posted a $50,000 bond and was subsequently released from jail. He didn't show up for his next court date.

Turner was tracked down through a Florida driver's license with his brother's name and date of birth. Turner's brother lives in Massachusetts.

Turner's bond has been set at $1 million.