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UPDATE (From San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept.) “The preliminary information released regarding the victim’s duration of false imprisonment was factually inaccurate,” said Sheriff’s officials in an updated news release. “While French is facing several charges related to child abuse, the victim was locked in her room for a period of four days, not several years. The warrant for French’s arrest was issued in late January.”

FONTANA – A dangerous fugitive who allegedly kept a 14-year-old victim locked in a room for several years forcing her to live in deplorable and inhumane conditions was arrested in Fontana on Friday afternoon.

At around 2:00 p.m. Specialized Enforcement Division assigned to the U.S, Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Frank French, 72, who was wanted out of Council Bluffs, Iowa for false imprisonment, four counts of child endangerment with bodily injury, and two counts of child endangerment. He was located at All About Storage located at 6211 Sierra Avenue in the City of Fontana.

French learned of the warrants for his arrest and fled in order to elude authorities for several months. Following the investigation, French was found and arrested without incident. He is being held without bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga without bail as he awaits extradition to Iowa.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Public Affairs Division at (909) 387-3700. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.