Casanova Con Man Escapes Again

Some people compare Michael Soutar to Prince Charming. His former girlfriends say he treated them well and showered them with attention and affection. But that only lasted so long: police say he tricked women out of their money, and nearly ruined several of their lives.

Soutar's run-ins with the law and lawless love flared up in 1996 when he escaped from the New Mexico State Penitentiary. Soutar was serving time for fraud, aggravated assault and forgery. Prison officials released Soutar so he could get knee surgery. He never returned.

Instead, he headed for Arizona and worked his way into women's hearts and pocketbooks. His victims say he discovered their credit history and financial background, then, he borrowed or stole from them using a variety of techniques, which included credit card fraud, forgery, or the simple "borrowing" of money- always promising to pay it back.

That's when Soutar's history started with America's Most Wanted. We first profiled this fugitive in 1997, but he was captured before the story aired.

Soutar was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with four years suspended. He was released in Arizona in 2002, and began serving the four years of suspended probation.

A New Life, More Trouble

In 2002, the former fugitive started a new life. He got married and moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico. But his fresh start spoiled fast. After moving to New Mexico, officials say he started yet another scam.

The alleged con artist used his techniques to gather investors and start an art market in late 2003. But nine months later, cops say it became apparent Soutar was draining the project dry. In August of 2004, police arrested Soutar for probation violations. Santa Fe police filed new charges against him in connection with the art market fraud.

Soutar was considered a low-risk prisoner, so while serving the rest of his time for parole vioations he was put on a work crew. But Soutar just could not stay out of trouble. The day after the grand jury indicted him on the New Mexico charges, Soutar was granted work release. He escaped into a waiting car.

Police want to get Soutar now more than ever. The women he has wronged say Soutar needs to get what he deserves.

Police Say Scams Catch Up To Con Artist

Michael Soutar is no stranger to run-ins with the law. Police say the Casanova con artist has managed to escape from custody twice in New Mexico and also served time in Arizona for fraud. Soutar has been compared to Prince Charming and has scammed his way in to many womens' hearts and then cleaned out their checkbooks when they least expected it.

In August of 2004, Soutar escaped from a work release program in New Mexico and disappeared again. But his scams began to catch up with him just one year later. Soutar was collecting checks from the Department of Veteran's Affairs. U.S. Marshals were able to track the checks to an address in Middlebury, Connecticut. Marshals went to the house, but Soutar wasn't there.

After further investigation, Marshals were able to develop information that Soutar was growing concerned that cops were catching up with him. Police say he headed to Boston, Massachusetts, where he was going to sail to Florida and start a new life. Police discovered Soutar had bought a yacht that was docked at a marina on the north end of Boston. The yacht, named Aquna-Matata, was well-known to people at the Marina. On August 16, 2005 police in Boston went to the marina, to see if their information was correct. Police say as they pulled up to the docks, they saw Soutar getting off a yacht -- heading right for them. Before Soutar knew what was going on, cops had him in custody. He tried to give police a couple of different aliases, but finally realized his life on the run was over and confessed.

Soutar is now behind bars in Boston, being held on a $200,000 cash-only bond. He will appear in front of a judge at the end of August, 2005.