'America's Most Wanted' to feature Hillsborough fugitive

TAMPA - A Hillsborough man who skipped out on his attempted capital sexual battery trial in June will be featured Saturday night on America's Most Wanted.

The TV show airs at 9 p.m. on FOX.

Kareem Hack, 22, had been on house arrest with an ankle bracelet while awaiting trial on the September 2006 sex charges. Accused of offering to pay $20 to have sex with two preschoolers, he knew he faced significant prison time if convicted.

He cut the bracelet off the night before his trial. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest, and he has been a fugitive ever since.

Prosecutors were prepared to argue at trial that Hack sent graphically worded text messages to a mother - who was having financial trouble - then showed up at a motel room and told her that he wanted to perform sexual acts on her 3-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son in exchange for money.

He was charged with two counts each of solicitation to commit capital sexual battery, attempted capital sexual battery and procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.

According to America's Most Wanted, authorities believe Hack could still be hiding in Florida or may have fled to his hometown of Queens, N.Y. His parents are from Guyana.

Call the show's hot line at 1-800-CRIME-TV if you have a tip.

Colleen Jenkins, Times Staff Writer

*