SUNBUIRY - The U.S. Marshals Service and members of its Fugitive Task Force arrested Joseph Gleason early Tuesday in a rural area of northern Lycoming County.

The 43-year-old former resident of Sunbury had been the subject of an intensive search in central Pennsylvania since Sunbury Police filed criminal charges allegeding that he had raped two city boys, ages 17 and 7.

City police requested the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and apprehend Gleason. This fugitive case was adopted by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Officials said that because of the nature and circumstances of the charges against Gleason, the matter was given the highest priority.

Shortly after the U.S. Marshals Service began working the case, information was developed on Gleason’s possible whereabouts in north-central Pennsylvania. U.S. Marshals and members of the Fugitive Task Force investigated these leads, and determined that Gleason had ties to Williamsport and surrounding areas.

At 2 a.m. Tuesday, U.S. Marshals and task force officers located a residence in Trout Run where the fugitive was hiding. A search of this location was conducted, and Gleason was found hiding in a 1st floor closet. U.S. Marshals arrested Gleason without incident, and he admitted his true identity.

Bleason was arraigned via a video link early Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic of Shamokin and committed to the Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail.

U.S. Marshals, based in Williamsport said they worked closely with the Sunbury Police Department, as well as several agencies that comprise its Fugitive Task Force. This includes officers from the Northumberland County Adult Probation Office, the Penn College Police Department, and the Lycoming County Sheriffs Office.