More details emerge on capture of McHenry County fugitive, alleged sexual abuser of child family member

WOODSTOCK – A man in McHenry County Jail on multiple sexual assault and abuse charges was detained in Canada before being extradited to the U.S., according to new information released Thursday by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

Robert J. Gould, 51, of Nova Scotia, Canada, was one of McHenry County’s 10 most wanted fugitives, and he was arrested for an array of charges that allege he sexually assaulted a family member younger than age 18 and sexually assaulted and abused a victim younger than 13, police said in a news release.

The charges stem from incidents in April in Island Lake and unincorporated Woodstock, police said.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Halifax Regional Police in Nova Scotia after Canadian authorities contacted the sheriff’s office with information concerning possible criminal activity that took place in Illinois, according to the release.

Investigators made contact with Gould in August when he was visiting the Wheeling area. Warrants for his arrest were obtained, and investigators learned that Gould had been detained by Canadian authorities Sept. 1, and that he was being extradited to the U.S., according to the release.

Gould was taken into custody at Logan International Airport in Boston by the U.S. Marshal’s Service and Massachusetts State Police. He arrived Wednesday at the McHenry County Jail police said.

Gould was charged with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than age 13. He also was charged with criminal sexual abuse of a family member younger than 18 and criminal sexual assault with force, according to the release.

It is unclear on the county jail log whether there are multiple victims or whether all the charges involve one victim.

​Gould is in the McHenry County Jail, and his bond is set at $500,000. He is due in court Monday.

A request for information from the sheriff’s office was not returned Thursday.