Suspect caught in Ohio

FLORENCE - The search is over for a man local police had been looking for in connection with the rape and sodomy of two young girls.

Florence police detective Keith Johnson said he has been notified that Joe Henry Jones Jr. has been arrested in Lima, Ohio, and will soon be transported back to Florence.

Johnson said authorities had been looking for Jones since warrants were issued for him in September 2006.

Johnson said the warrants are for two counts of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sodomy.

Both offenses are Class A felonies, which are punishable by 10 years to life, if convicted.

Johnson said Jones, 33, of 910 West Montgomery Ave., Florence, has reportedly been moving from place to place. He said in addition to living at West Montgomery Avenue, Jones has also lived at a residence on Pruitt Street and possibly in other states.

In early November, Johnson said the department had received information that Jones had been staying from time to time in Louisiana and Ohio.

Johnson said he was notified late Friday by law enforcement officers in Ohio that Jones had been picked up as a suspect in a case there.

"As it turned out, he wasn't involved in that case, but they are holding him on our outstanding warrants," Johnson said.

Authorities said Jones is accused of molesting 9-year-old and 11-year-old girls. Department officials said Jones was a friend of the family when the incident reportedly happened.

Authorities said the incidents reportedly took place when the girls were living at a residence in West Florence.

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.