AURORA, Colo. — A wanted fugitive was arrested by Aurora police on child sexual assault charges last month, the department announced Wednesday.
John Vincent Custer, a 48-year-old resident of Denver, was taken into custody by the Aurora Police Department (APD) on November 26. The charges against him include two counts of child sexual assault with a pattern of abuse and two counts of child enticement. Custer lives in the Highland neighborhood of Denver.
The arrest was carried out by the APD Internet Crimes Against Children Unit in collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies. It was prompted by an active warrant linked to an investigation into the sexual assault of a 14-year-old individual.
Denver 7+ Colorado News Latest Headlines | December 11, 11am
The investigation began in August when Aurora detectives received information suggesting that Custer had been communicating with the teenager through a mobile application. Subsequent police inquiries revealed that Custer allegedly engaged in sexual activities with the minor at the victim’s residence on two separate occasions.
Custer was booked into a Denver County Jail and is out of custody on a $50,000 bond.
This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anybody with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can stay anonymous and earn a reward up to $2,000.
Aurora police said there are no other victims in this case, however during the department’s investigation, they learned Custer was the subject of another child sex assault investigation by an Internet Crimes Against Children affiliate in another jurisdiction in Colorado, a spokesperson told Denver7.
According to Colorado documents, Custer pleaded not guilty to charges of internet luring (with a child with intent to exploit) and internet sexual exploitation of a child in Morgan County. He was arrested in connection with these charges in December 2023 and the case is currently working through the justice system, with a jury trial expected to start in late April 2025.
