U.S. Marshals say there is grave concern that a missing child predator may be re-offending in Austin.
Mark Stephen Bauman, 49, was last seen in 2007. U.S. Marshal Hector Gomez says Bauman has a clear method of operation.
"He tends to prey upon women who have young children and through that association is able to victimize children,” Gomez said.
In 2002, Bauman was convicted in a Travis County court of sexually assaulting his then seven-year-old daughter. He served six months in prison.
In 2007, Austin police filed two more charges against him for snapping nude photos of his 13 and 15-year-old step daughters and videotaping them while they changed.
However, when police went to his North Austin home to serve the warrants, Bauman was gone.
"Bauman fits the profile of someone we view to be dangerous. Our concern is that he will not stop unless he's caught,” Gomez said.
Bauman was believed to be living in Mexico all this time. However, recent tips put him back in Austin.
Marshals say several credible people who know Bauman have recently seen him in the IH-35 and Rundberg area.
Gomez says Bauman may be taking jobs as a professional handyman. He is described as intelligent, fluent in Spanish and charming.
It is possible he may be using that charm to woo women in Internet chat rooms, thus repeating the cycle of crime.
There is reward money to be had if you can lead police to Bauman. Call Crime Stoppers at 472-TIPS.
In addition to APD warrants, he now has two federal warrants against him. That adds up to a lengthy prison sentence.
