Registered Sex Offender Arrested in Fort Lauderdale Rape: Police

No bond for registered sex offender charged in 2012 rape

A registered sex offender has been arrested in the 2012 rape of a woman in Fort Lauderdale, authorities said.

Sam Austin, 42, was arrested Wednesday and charged with sex battery, kidnapping and failure to register as a sex offender, Fort Lauderdale Police said.


Austin was ordered held without bond during his first appearance before Broward Circuit Court Judge John Hurley Thursday.

"The court believes you represent an extreme danger to the women in Broward County, the women in Florida," Hurley told Austin during the appearance.

According to police, the attack happened back on Oct. 18, 2012, as the woman waited at a bus stop in Fort Lauderdale.


The woman had to use a restroom and walked behind a building when she was grabbed by the neck and pushed up against a wall, police said.

Austin told the woman if she made any noise he'd kill her, then forced the woman into having sex, police said. The woman was able to get away and call for help, but Austin fled the area, police said.

Police used DNA to track down Austin. He was also positively identified by the victim in a photo lineup, police said.


Austin became a registered sex offender in 1992 when he was convicted of attempted sexual battery in Orange County, Hurley said. He was also convicted in Broward in 2009 for failing to register as a sex offender.

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