Two of McHenry County’s most-wanted fugitives caught

U.S. marshals and members of the McHenry County sheriff’s apprehension unit located two of the sheriff’s office’s top 10 fugitives Monday.

Both men were located within a one-hour period and taken into custody without incident, according to the sheriff’s department.

The department’s No. 3 most-wanted fugitive, Jeremiah B. Pedersen of Woodstock, failed to appear for a May 24 court date on multiple felony drug and aggravated battery charges, according the sheriff’s office.

Authorities believed that Pedersen had fled the state, but an anonymous person called Crime Stoppers on Friday with information of Pedersen’s possible location, according to police.

U.S. marshals and sheriff’s deputies learned Pedersen was possibly living in the Schaumburg area and took him into custody at the intersection of routes 72 and 59 at 11:30 a.m. Monday in South Barrington.

Pedersen is being held in lieu of $1 million bail on charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, aggravated battery and failure to appear in court.

About 40 minutes later, sheriff’s deputies and U.S. marshals located the No. 5 most-wanted fugitive at the intersection of Randall Road and Route 64 in St. Charles, police said.

Robert M. Gude, 33, of Huntley was wanted on two counts of criminal sexual assault.

Police said the assault took place in Huntley on Nov. 29, 2010, and Gude was charged on March 10, 2011.

Neither sheriff’s deputies and U.S. marshals were able to locate Gude, and they believed he received help to avoid capture and flee to Florida.

On Saturday, the sheriff’s office received a tip that Gude was possibly working in the St. Charles area, and an investigation confirmed this, according to police.

Gude is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.