Local police suspect an American man wanted for several counts of sexually assaulting children may have been, and could still be, in the Yukon.

Whitehorse RCMP reported late this morning they have evidence that Frederick Cecil McLean was possibly in Whitehorse.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the 58-year-old man is an experienced outdoorsman and may be staying in camping areas.

He is an auto mechanic who specializes in restoring vintage race cars.

America's Most Wanted website describes McLean as detail-oriented, a spendthrift and a deeply religious man.

McLean was charged in 2005 with multiple counts of sexual assault after years of allegations being made against him at various Jehovah's Witness congregations.

The complaints were all made internally, however, and the church has a rule that more than one person within a congregation must come forward with an allegation before the church will consider looking into it.

To avoid this, police say, McLean moved from congregation to congregation, even though some church leaders knew of the charges made against him.

It wasn't until an 18-year-old California woman went to police with her story that an investigation began.

McLean got wind of the investigation and began selling off his assets, divorced his wife, and disappeared, according to the Most Wanted website.

Police suspect he has a large amount of money at his disposal, upwards of $400,000 US.

McLean, who is accused of molesting girls as young as five years old over a 20-year period, is considered by American law enforcers to be armed, dangerous and suicidal.

A photo available from the U.S. Department of Justice shows him to be caucasian with brown hair and hazel eyes.

In the photo, he has a moustache, but police believe he may have shaved it, as seen in the photo published here.

He has no known tattoos nor scars.

McLean stands five foot 11 and weighs approximately 77 kg (170 lbs.).

The warrant for his arrest was issued in San Diego, and has been outstanding since 2005.

McLean, who usually goes by the first name Rick, uses various spellings of his surname as aliases, such as McLain and McClean.

Police believe he may have fake identity papers and warn that he could be using an entirely new alias.