Two ‘Most Wanted’ Fugitives Apprehended in East Texas

Within the past week, two fugitives on the Texas Department of Public Safety's 'Most Wanted' Lists were captured in separate arrests in East Texas.

Thaddeus Cordera Hodge

Hodge, who has been a Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender, was captured on Monday, March 17 near Mt. Enterprise. A Facebook post by the Rusk County Sheriff's Office said the arrest occurred in the south end of Rusk County.

In 2018, Hodge was convicted of two counts of Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact following incidents with a 15-year-old female. He was sentenced to 8 years confinement for each offense, to be served concurrently.

He had been wanted since August 2023, after the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles issued a warrant for his arrest for Parole Violation. Additionally, since August 2024, warrants were issued out of Rusk County for his arrest for Failure to Comply with Sex Offender Registration Requirements and Debit/Credit Card Abuse.

Previous charges include Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Assault that Causes Bodily Injury Family Member, Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, Unlawful Carrying Weapon, Driving While Intoxicated, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Theft of Property.

Before his capture, Hodge's last known address was in Garrison.

Rigoberto Enrique Valencia

Valencia, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrant from El Salvador, was captured on March 14 in Cleveland, Texas. In coordination with DPS Special Agents, a Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle, leading to his arrest.

In March 2024, Valencia was arrested by the Houston Police Department for Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon. On August 25, 2024, he was arrested by the Houston Police Department for a Prohibited Weapon and subsequently bonded out of jail several days later.

He had been wanted since August 29, 2024, after a warrant was issued out of Harris County for his arrest for Failure to Appear.

Neither of these arrests were the result of tips through Texas Crime Stoppers, so no reward money was paid for either of these captures.