A notorious child sex predator who managed to evade justice for over a decade by faking his own kidnapping was finally apprehended last week at an upstate New York college. Anthony Lennon, who was on Oklahoma’s “Ten Most Wanted” list, was arrested at the State University of New York (SUNY) Canton where he was enrolled under the alias “Justin Phillips.”
Lennon, 44, had initially been convicted in 2008 for possessing child pornography after a friend discovered disturbing content on his computer. Despite being sentenced to 20 years, Lennon was out on supervised release when he was caught again in 2012 for the same crime. However, instead of facing the consequences, Lennon staged an elaborate abduction and robbery scene to evade arrest, leaving behind falsified evidence to make it appear as though he had been kidnapped.
Authorities received a call from the motel owner where Lennon was supposed to be arrested, claiming he had disappeared overnight on March 11, 2012. The scene was staged with a pool of blood, Lennon’s belongings, and missing money from the motel’s cash drawer. Despite reported sightings of Lennon in various states, he managed to avoid capture for 13 years.
Using a fake identity, Lennon obtained a state ID, birth certificate, and enrolled at SUNY Canton as “Justin Phillips.” He even attempted to obtain a passport under his new identity. However, his true identity was eventually uncovered when fingerprints revealed his real name to be Anthony Lennon.
Following his arrest, Lennon was suspended and banned from the SUNY Canton campus. He had been enrolled in the engineering science program as a full-time student living off-campus. The college spokesperson confirmed that Lennon was only known to them as Justin Phillips, with no prior record of his true identity.
Lennon’s arrest brings closure to a long-standing case of a fugitive who went to great lengths to escape justice. Authorities are now focused on ensuring that he faces the consequences of his actions and is held accountable for his crimes.
