y he was fleeing to a different country. NBC 10

The trial against the then 49-year-old continued despite him being out-of-state, and he was convicted of first-degree sexual assault in absentia, officials said.

He was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear, first-degree sexual assault, and flight to avoid prosecution.

Fischer was featured several times on the hit show  America's Most Wanted  during his time on the run, the Rhode Island State Police said.

Officials celebrated Fischer's arrest, 20 years after his initial escape.

 You can run, but you cannot hide from justice,  First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Charles Calenda said, according to the outlet.  Ronald Fischer will now return to Rhode Island to face the consequences he sought to evade for more than 20 years.

 This arrest demonstrates that time does not erase accountability,  Rhode Island US Marshal Wing Chau said.  We hope today's arrest brings a measure of justice and long-awaited closure to the victim and everyone impacted by these crimes. 

Fischer was brought to Staten Island before being transferred to Manhattan, where he is being held until officials decide if he will appear in federal court for absconding or be sent to New York state court for an extradition hearing back to Rhode Island, NBC New York reported.