Federal marshals and local deputies arrested a Wisconsin man wanted on child sex-crime allegations Friday in northern Arizona, officials said Monday. The capture ended a fugitive search that stretched from eastern Wisconsin to Yavapai County.
Booking photo released by authorities of the man arrested Friday in Paulden, Arizona; officials say he is a Wisconsin fugitive wanted on child sex-crimes dating to 2021–2022.
The U.S. Marshals Service, working with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 42-year-old Shawn Dunham at a home in Paulden, about 25 miles north of Prescott. Federal investigators say the alleged offenses occurred in Green Bay between 2021 and 2022.
Authorities in eastern Wisconsin learned Dunham had relocated to the Yavapai County area and passed that information to detectives in Arizona. Investigators carried out records checks, interviews, surveillance and other investigative steps to determine his whereabouts before moving in to make the arrest.
Following his arrest, Dunham was booked into the Yavapai County Detention Center. Officials said he is being held pending extradition to Brown County, Wisconsin, where he faces the outstanding allegations.
U.S. Marshal Van Bayless, representing the District of Arizona, issued a statement emphasizing the cross-jurisdictional effort that led to the apprehension. "Individuals accused of exploiting and victimizing children cannot evade accountability simply by crossing state lines," Bayless said. "The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners nationwide to locate and apprehend fugitives wanted for serious crimes."
Law enforcement agencies involved in the case did not release further details about the specific charges or the investigation beyond the timeline and locations of the alleged offenses. Booking information and photograph were released by authorities after the arrest in Paulden.
Dunham’s arrest reflects the coordinated effort between federal and local law enforcement to track and arrest individuals wanted in other states. He remains in custody in Yavapai County as officials complete the paperwork and arrangements necessary to return him to Wisconsin for prosecution.