Fugitive Pedophile Arrested in France After 14 Years on the Run

After a relentless 14-year manhunt, authorities have finally captured a notorious child predator who had been on the run since 2008. Michael Wiseman, identified by the Scottsdale Police Department as its "#2 most wanted fugitive," was arrested on Nov. 1, 2025 in Kilstett, France.

Wiseman was first charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor back in February 2008. However, he cut off his ankle bracelet and fled the United States later that year while under court-ordered monitoring. Scottsdale police obtained an Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant, leading to Wiseman's arrest in Spain in 2009. But after being extradited and sentenced in 2012, he managed to flee the country again while on probation.

The Scottsdale Criminal Intelligence Unit never stopped pursuing Wiseman, tracking him as he traveled to Vietnam, Poland, and eventually France, where he was living under an alias. In October 2025, detectives gained access to Wiseman's personal email account, which contained new evidence of child sexual abuse material involving his adopted child. This led to French authorities charging him with "rape and sexual assault of a minor under 15 years of age."

Scottsdale Police Chief Joe LeDuc praised the "years of persistence, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to protecting children" that went into finally apprehending this dangerous fugitive. Wiseman now faces extradition to the United States to answer for his heinous crimes.