A Modesto man arrested for sexually assaulting a Turlock teenager is believed to have fled the country and is being featured on a federal agency’s app aimed at catching sexual predators.

Eladio Ramirez Tizoc, 22, was arrested Dec. 4 on allegations he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl that he met through Instagram. The U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency suspects Tizoc has fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution. The Homeland Security Investigations unit in Mexico received credible information Tizoc had left the United States and was hiding in Mexico, according to ICE, which is now featuring Tizoc on the Operation Predator app.

Tizoc met the victim by following her through the social media site and eventually commenting on her photos. Tizoc met with the girl on four separate occasions.

The situation came to light on the morning of Nov. 24 when an individual reported seeing a young girl on Lewis Street in Turlock sitting alongside the road crying. The responding Turlock Police officer learned from the girl that she had left her home without anyone knowing and when she returned a light was on inside and she was afraid to go back inside. Upon further questioning, the officer uncovered the girl’s meetings with Tizoc and called in detectives.

Detectives were able to locate Tizoc through his Instagram account. He was taken into custody on Dec. 4 at his Modesto residence. He was charged by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office on two counts of sodomy, two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior, penetration with a foreign object, and lewd and unlawful sexual intercourse.

Tizoc missed a court hearing on Jan. 3.

ICE's Operation Predator App allows users to receive alerts about wanted predators, to share the information with friends via email and social media tools, and to provide information to HSI by calling or submitting an online tip. Additionally, the app allows users to view news about the arrest and prosecution of child predators and obtain information about ICE and its global partners in the fight against child exploitation. The app can be downloaded through the Apple Store or iTunes.

HSI requests that anyone with information about Tizoc, or any of the other fugitives profiled on the app, contact the agency though the app; or by calling the HSI Tip Line, which is staffed 24-hours a day at (866) 347-2423 from the U.S. & Canada or (802) 872-6199 from anywhere in the world, or submitting an online tip form at www.ice.gov/tips/.