Fugitive Jerry Lee Hearn Arrested

OKLAHOMA CITY—Special Agent in Charge James E. Finch of the Oklahoma City Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Chief Bill Citty, Oklahoma City Police Department, announced the arrest of Jerry Lee Hearn, 53 years of age, on outstanding felony warrants from Pima County, Arizona.

In late March 2013, a tip was received by the Oklahoma City Division of the FBI that Jerry Lee Hearn, a fugitive from Arizona, had been living in Oklahoma City under an assumed name for the past 10 years. The information received included the fact that Hearn had assumed the identity of Kenneth Watson, an actual individual who moved away from Oklahoma in 2003.

FBI agents conducted an investigation based on this information and coordinated with law enforcement officials at the Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Arizona authorities confirmed valid outstanding warrants for Jerry Lee Hearn, including four felony counts of armed robbery and four felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The crimes charged include the robberies of a bank, two restaurants, and a convenience store, which occurred between June and August 2003.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 1, 2013, FBI agents and officers of the Oklahoma City Police Department Gang Enforcement Unit arrested Hearn in the 2300 block of N.E. 23rd Street in Oklahoma City. The arrest was made without incident and Hearn admitted his true identity to arresting agents. Hearn was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail and is pending extradition to Arizona to face state charges.

The public is reminded a charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.