Ohio man indicted for assaulting girls

FLORENCE - A man who is accused of sexually molesting two girls has been indicted on six felony charges.

Joe Henry Jones Jr., 34, of Lima, Ohio, has been indicted on two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sexual abuse and enticing a child for immoral purposes, said Florence police detective Keith Johnson.

Johnson said the indictments were returned during last week's session of the Lauderdale County grand jury. Officials said Jones was arrested in December in Ohio and transported to Florence.

Authorities had been looking for Jones since warrants were issued for his arrest in September 2006.

Johnson said Jones was living at 910 W. Montgomery Ave., Florence, when the reported incidents took place,

Police said Jones is accused of molesting 9-year-old and 11-year-old girls. Jones was a friend of the girls' family, police said.

The attacks reportedly took place when the girls were living at a residence in West Florence.

In early November, police received information that Jones had been staying from time to time in Louisiana and Ohio. Johnson said his office received a tip through the Shoals Area CrimeStoppers that led to Jones' arrest in Ohio.

Jones is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on bail totaling $395,000.

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