A man wanted for a rape that occurred over 40 years ago in New York state was apprehended Wednesday in Shenandoah.

Russell Benjamin Pearce, 73, was taken into custody by state poilce at Frackville, Shenandoah police, state police from New York and federal marshals. Pearce, who went by the name Russell Stengle, has been living in Shenandoah for the past 16 years and reportedly had lived for a time in Palmerton, Flordia and Ohio.Pearce was arraigned before District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, of Shenandoah, and committed to the county prison in Pottsville in lieu of$100,000 straight cash bail. He is awaiting extradition to New York.Frackville troopers said Pearce was indicted for the rape of a woman that occurred on June 13, 1970, in Fallsburg, Sulligan County. A woman was walking along a road to meet her husband when she was offered a ride by a man on a motorcycle. The man took her to a wooded area and raped her over the course of four hours. She later identified Pearce as the rapist by a photo lineup.Pearce was previously arrested in New Jersey for a sexual assault. He was arraigned and released after posting $10,000 bail. He never showed up for his hearing in that matter but New Jersey officials later dropped the charges when the victim declined to prosecute.Pearce arrived in Shenandoah in 1994 where he resided in a spare room at 512 E. Lloyd St.Reportedly, Pearce told investigators that he was once married to a woman and resided with her in Palmerton until their divorce and gave the home in Palmerton to her. He also said he has two daughters.According to New York officials Pearce called authorities in Fallsburg earlier this year to see if he was still wanted. Officials said Pearce called on a cell phone which they were able to trace to Shenanodah.Because of the time Pearce spent on the run the statute of limitations on the rape case in New York has several years to run. New York law states the time Pearce was on the run put the time for the statute of limititations on hold.