Personal Trainer Wanted in Sexual Assault Case Arrested in Thailand

A Houston personal trainer who was charged and wanted in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl has been arrested in Thailand.

The suspect, Forrest Wayne, was a personal trainer at Westside Tennis and Fitness Club in Houston, according to local media reports. Wayne, 41, remains jailed following his arrest Saturday in Thailand, and Houston officials are working to arrange his extradition to the United States so he can stand trial, the Houston Chronicle reported.

A clerk at a health food store in Phuket, Thailand, who became suspicious of Wayne did an Internet search upon learning his name and read the sexual assault allegations against him, officials told Houston media outlets on Monday.

In a press release last week, the Houston Police Department said Wayne worked with the 13-year-old girl as her fitness instructor beginning in July, although TV station KHOU reported that the victim met Wayne while he trained her mother. Wayne started a relationship with the girl using text messages and phone calls, and the two had multiple sexual encounters at a motel in west Houston, according to police. The Chronicle reported that the first sexual encounter occurred on July 18, and the last incident was Oct. 10.

Westside Tennis and Fitness Club confirmed Wayne was employed there and terminated after the allegations surfaced. KHOU reported that Wayne worked at the club for seven years.

"We can confirm that there is an on-going investigation within the HPD Juvenile Crimes Division involving a former employee and a minor," the club said in a statement released to Houston media last week. "We took swift action as soon as we were alerted to this alleged incident. Due to the fact that it rests within the Juvenile Crimes Division, we are unable to comment further."