JAY — A Texas man who is wanted by New Hampshire police on sexual assault charges is being held as a fugitive from justice at the Franklin County jail in Farmington.

Jay police officer Dylan Rider stopped the vehicle Eric Hawkins, 23, of Jasper, Texas, was driving for having no inspection sticker, Jay Police Chief Richard Caton IV said Wednesday. He discovered there was an extraditable warrant for Hawkins out of Kensington, New Hampshire.

Rider arrested him on a Jay charge of operating an unregistered motor vehicle and took him into custody on a complaint of being a fugitive from justice.

Kensington Police Chief Scott Sanders said Hawkins is wanted on three charges of felonious sexual assault and lesser charges of prohibited distribution of drugs and prohibited sales of alcohol, Sanders said.

Each of the the sexual assault charges in New Hampshire is punishable by a minimum 3½ years and a maximum of seven years in prison, Sanders said. He declined to give any other information on the assault because of state law.

His department issued a warrant for Hawkins’ arrest on July 19, Sanders said.

Hawkins was being held without bail Wednesday morning at the Franklin County jail and was scheduled to appear before a judge in the afternoon.

If Hawkins waives extradition, Sanders said, Kensington police will come to Maine to take him back to New Hampshire.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

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