Fugitive rape suspect finds religion, returns for trial

A decade after he fled Nevada to avoid standing trial on charges of raping a Metro Police detective's 12-year-old daughter, James Rankin has found God and resurfaced to face his fate.

Deputy District Attorney Thomas Moreo said Rankin had boasted to friends that he "did a cop's daughter," but a nationwide search didn't turn up any signs of the then-25-year-old defendant and the trail had long been cold.

Had it not been for his own actions, Rankin might have lived out the rest of his days undetected.

Even being declared one of Las Vegas's 10 most wanted fugitives and spotlighted in an episode on the television crime show "America's Most Wanted" several years ago failed to dislodge him.

But reading a passage from the New Testament several months ago at a church he joined sparked something within Rankin, according to his attorney Don Green, who emphasized that the surrender should not be interpreted to be an admission of guilt.

"He said, 'I've got to do the right thing -- go back and face this,' " Green said.

After jumping bail in 1989 on the eve of his scheduled trial, Rankin worked his way to England where he secured documents that let him find employment and even get married, Green said. But the marriage ended several years ago and there were no other ties.

Although Green said Rankin's decision to surrender came several months ago, it wasn't until September that Rankin returned to Nevada, where his sister still lives, and turned himself in with the help of his lawyer and a justice of the peace.

"He was 25, a wiry kid with a lot of ideas," Green said, recalling his first impression of the defendant after the original charges were filed.

"Now he is much more calm and at peace with himself," the attorney continued. "He found something, and it definitely could be this religion."

In court Wednesday, the sandy-haired defendant stood quietly, bound in belly chains and shackles as District Judge Kathy Hardcastle set a Nov. 16 trial date for him. It is a court date he will keep this time -- unless there is a plea bargain -- because Hardcastle hasn't granted bail.

Watching from the back of the courtroom was the grim-faced detective whose then-pre-teen daughter had been raped.

After the brief hearing, the longtime Metro officer lamented to Deputy District Attorney Thomas Moreo, "My daughter's gone through hell for the past 10 years."

Green said he expects the case will be resolved "one way or the other" without a trial.

If that occurs, it would spare the detective's daughter from having to take the witness stand and recount the sexual assault.

Moreo said she had been babysitting when the attack took place. Rankin, who is facing two counts of sexual assault, is alleged to have then joined some buddies at Lake Mead and bragged about his exploits.

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