Danny Randell Lott

A man who allegedly bound, gagged and severely beat a 53-year-old Austin woman last week failed to appear in federal court Friday on a number of child pornography charges.

An arrest warrant for Danny Randell Lott, 46, will be issued, and he is considered a fugitive from justice.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Phillip Lane had court officials check outside the courtroom Friday for Lott. When the judge confirmed that Lott was not present, he said appropriate action will be taken against him.

It was not clear if Abilene police believe Lott is in the city. A message seeking comment from Sgt. Lynn Beard was not immediately returned Friday night.

At a news conference Thursday, Beard said that Lott was last seen around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Abilene and that police believed he was in the city.

Lott lives, works and has family in Abilene, Beard said previously.

Meanwhile, Wylie Intermediate School was on "alert status" and carefully watching visitors on campus Friday because Lott has a child who attends the school, Wylie ISD Superintendent Joey Light said.

Light said the district was attempting to be proactive, having notified staff via e-mail Friday morning about Lott being on the loose and to be "on the lookout for anyone causing concern."

However, it wasn't considered a lockdown, Light said.

According to Light, the Wylie Intermediate School staff was told not to confront Lott if he appeared on campus and to notify police immediately.

Lott's child was not in school Friday, Light said, and no incident was reported.

Lott is facing first-degree felony aggravated robbery charges after a man pulled a gun on the Austin woman, beat her with it and made her crawl to her bedroom, where he taped her mouth and bound her, said Austin Police Sgt. Elizabeth Donegan.

The woman, whom Donegan declined to identify, escaped. She suffered serious injuries, including cuts on her head, and is recovering, Donegan said.

Austin police linked Lott the crime after his watch was found in the pocket of a bloody pair of shorts. The shorts were found at the scene of a burglary three blocks away from the assault victim's home, Donegan said.

Police had a jeweler run the watch's serial number, identifying Lott as the owner. The woman later identified Lott in a photo lineup, Donegan said.

Lott is facing six counts of child pornography charges, including four counts of receiving, one count of possession and one count of receipt of child obscenity. Each charge of receiving and possessing the material carries a sentence of five to 20 years in prison. Receiving child obscenity is punishable by five to 20 years for a first offense, or by 15 to 40 years for people with certain prior offenses, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison.

He is likely driving a 2006 gray or silver Lincoln Towncar bearing the license plate number 177-PSM. He is likely carrying a large amount of cash, and police consider him to be armed and dangerous.