A man identified as Douglas Henry Happer who was sentenced to 63 years in jail for various counts of rape and sexual abuse yesterday disappeared before the judge could read his sentence, according to a statement from the Judicial Branch.

A court in Goicoechea, north of San José, decided Happer's sentence at 10 a.m. and was preparing to read it about an hour and a half later. By that time, Happer had disappeared.

Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) officials with the Sex Crimes Unit are searching for him.

He was found guilty on three charges of first-degree rape and three charges of sexual abuse against minors.