A Maui man wanted in the sexual assault of a boy last year has been apprehended in Thailand by U.S. authorities and returned to the islands for trial.

Steven Strike, 46, of Paia was indicted by a Maui grand jury Feb. 1 in the assault of a child younger than 14 years old for more than a year.

After he was booked by Maui Police in February 2012, Strike was released pending further investigation and left Hawaii, according to the U.S. Marshals Hawaii Fugitive Task Force.

After his indictment, Maui police were unable to locate Strike and learned that a few days after his initial arrest that he had fled the state, the task force said.

In October the Maui prosecuting attorney’s office requested the assistance of the task force. The investigation led the task force from Paia to Tempe, Ariz., and then to Bangkok.

Strike was found Dec. 1. at a home in Pattaya, Thailand, where he had been living for 21 months, and was arrested by the Department of State, Regional Security Officer in Bangkok, and a Thai immigration authority.

He was extradited to Hawaii and was being held Thursday at the Maui Police Department cellblock pending a court appearance.

He is being held without bail.