Bail was set at $500,000 yesterday for convicted sex offender and long-time fugitive Michael Andrew Stephens.

Stephens' initial court appearance before Judge Derrick Chan was conducted via closed circuit TV from the O'ahu Community Correctional Center.

Deputy prosecuting attorney Rom Trader said there's "not a snowball's chance" Stephens will make bail.

"The guy was already convicted in one case and he's essentially eluded justice for all this time," Trader said. "Now that we've finally caught up to him again, we want to be sure he gets exactly what he deserves. We have these two cases against him already which is a good thing, but we're looking at other options we might have."

Stephens, 56, was unshaven and wore an orange OCCC jumpsuit. He was brought back to Hawai'i last week after spending 15 years on the run and being captured in Mexico on Dec. 3 by U.S. Marshals.

Trader indicated yesterday that more charges could follow as well as a bond revocation request. Making the bond "cash only" makes it nearly impossible for Stephens to raise the money in the interim, Trader said.

Before his appearance in court, Stephens contacted defense attorney Michael Green, and requested representation.

After the court appearance, Green left for OCCC to meet with Stephens, and said he would discuss the case later.

Stephens was convicted in 1990 of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a 16-year-old boy and was awaiting trial in 1993 on new sex assault charges when he fled and faked a disappearance at sea.

Three years later, Stephens applied for a U.S. passport at a U.S. Consulate in Mexico using his birth name, Michael Andrew Kulhanek, which allowed him to obtain a work permit in Mexico.

Stephens was helping run a restaurant in Mexico when he was arrested. His arrest followed a short profile on the TV show "America's Most Wanted" in April.

Stephens faces a maximum 41 years on the 1990 conviction, said Trader, who prosecuted Stephens in that case.