U.S. Marshals Capture Florida Sex Offender in New York After 35 Years

Joseph Michaels spent 36 years living under assumed names in New York's Sullivan County, but a February 2026 request from the Hernando County Sheriff's Office to the U.S. Marshals Service ended that run on March 18, when members of the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested the 68-year-old in Cochecton, a small town roughly 90 miles northwest of New York City.

Michaels is wanted in Hernando County on three charges dating to 1989: lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under 12, sexual battery, and unlawful sexual activity with a child. He is now awaiting extradition back to Florida.

Investigators determined Michaels had fled Florida sometime after the charges were filed and settled in Sullivan County, where he used several aliases over the following three-plus decades to avoid detection. When task force members took him into custody Wednesday morning, Michaels initially gave officers a false name before ultimately admitting his true identity.

Jhovanny Gomez, commander of the U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, issued a statement underlining the significance of the arrest. "Even after more than three decades, this arrest demonstrates that time does not erase the seriousness of crimes committed against children. Our investigators remained committed to ensuring that this individual could no longer evade responsibility, and today's arrest shows that we will continue to pursue those accused of harming the most vulnerable members of our communities," Gomez said.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office formally requested federal assistance in February 2026, initiating the fugitive investigation that pinpointed Michaels in Sullivan County. The sources do not identify a specific extradition date or the facility where Michaels is being held pending transfer to Florida.

No court dates or bond information have been made public. Stu Smith, Assistant Chief Inspector for the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, is the designated press contact for the U.S. Marshals Service on the case.