California fugitive wanted on child sex charges had ties to Norwalk that led to arrest

Norwalk police arrested Matthew Gass, 77, over the weekend. He is accused of sexual copulation of a child under the age of 10 and two counts of a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14.

News 12 Staff

Jun 14, 2021, 9:29 PM

Updated 1,219 days ago

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A fugitive wanted in California on alleged child sex abuse charges is in custody in Connecticut.
Norwalk police arrested Matthew Gass, 77, over the weekend. He is accused of sexual copulation of a child under the age of 10 and two counts of a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14.
Norwalk police say the crimes are listed in a warrant out of Long Beach, California. But Gass was arrested approximately 2,800 miles away at the Fawn Ridge Condos on the Norwalk-Wilton line.
Police say Gass was sitting in the back of a car when he was taken into custody by Norwalk officers and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force on Saturday afternoon.
Supervisory Deputy Matthew Duffy, of the U.S. Marshals Service in Connecticut, told News 12 the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued the warrant for Gass' arrest on June 2.
Duffy couldn't provide details of the case including when the alleged crimes occurred.
Gass's court file lists an address in New York City. His emergency contact was a woman who lives in Fawn Ridge, where authorities tracked him down.
Gass waived extradition and will return to California where will be formally charged with child sex abuse.