I have watch too much crime stories. I have seen them calling fugitive as soon as crime has committed and not caught yet, even not appear in court to begin with.
Law dictionary
Fugitive from Justice legal definition of Fugitive from Justice. Fugitive from Justice synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.
An individual who, after having committed a criminal offense, leaves the jurisdiction of the court where such crime has taken place or hides within such jurisdiction to escape prosecution.
A fugitive from justice who flees from one state to another may be subjected to Extradition in the state to which he or she has fled.
This dictionary said nothing about conviction. But Avoiding prosecution, meaning arrest, appear in court in any level.