A Nicaraguan national who spent more than 20 years fleeing federal authorities has pleaded guilty to the forcible sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl on a cruise ship that departed from Galveston, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Elias Luis Herrera, 47, entered a guilty plea to sexual abuse of a minor before U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, according to Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas.

The backstory: The charges stem from an incident in the early morning hours of July 17, 2003.