AUBURN – A man who fled to avoid facing charges that he molested two girls in Lisbon has turned himself in – eight years later.

Michael H. Poulin, 51, had avoided state, local and federal investigators since 1994, when he slipped away after his arrest became imminent. The manhunt twice was featured on the television program “America’s Most Wanted.”

On Friday night, Poulin walked into the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department and announced that he was being sought on warrants. He was arrested, booked and jailed on two counts of gross sexual assault.

“I was more than just a little happy he had turned himself in,” said Lisbon police Detective Patrick Gagnon. “I’ve talked to the two girls and they are relieved, to say the least.”

Poulin is charged with sexually assaulting the two girls on separate occasions. One girl was 12 years old, the other 11.

Gagnon said Poulin managed to escape because he was given a ride out of the area in his brother’s private plane. The brother, Alex Poulin, later was convicted on a charge of hindering apprehension.

Maine State Police joined local investigators in the search. The FBI later became involved. At some phases of the hunt, military officials helped out.

Investigators considered Poulin dangerous because he has a string of previous convictions going back decades, including some for gross sexual assault, gross sexual misconduct and assault.

For most of the time he was wanted, Poulin apparently continued to receive his Social Security checks through his brother, who had power of attorney. The Social Security Administration cut off checks in May, and Gagnon believes that was a factor in Poulin’s turning himself in.

There has been no word yet on where Poulin has been for the past eight years. Gagnon said he hopes to learn more as he continues to investigate.

For now, he’s just relieved to have Poulin back in custody.

“I’ve never been so aware of how much this kind of thing ruins lives,” Gagnon said. “For the last eight years, I’ve felt like I’ve failed the victims, that I let them down.”