For more than 11 years, a former Paulding County man lived in Jamaica to avoid being prosecuted for child molestation.
On Monday, 71-year-old Charles Manord Rainey was in the Paulding jail to answer to those charges, according to the U.S. Marshals Service and local investigators.
“Let the message go out to all criminals: Time and distance will not provide you shelter,” U.S. Marshal Thomas Brown said. “Victims deserve — and will receive — justice. If you hurt our community, you will be apprehended and made to answer for your crimes.”
In August 2010, an arrest warrant was issued for Rainey, charging him with aggravated child molestation, child molestation and sexual battery, court records show. The Paulding sheriff’s office investigated the allegations against a girl under the age of 16.
The following July, Rainey was indicted on the three felony charges. When he failed to show up for a scheduled court appearance, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, according to court records. By 2012, the case was “dead docketed” because Rainey had not been located.
In 2011, Rainey was issued a six-month visa to travel to Jamaica. But last week, he was taken into custody there and admitted he stayed in the country illegally.
“On Nov. 15, security forces from the Government of Jamaica, working with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, took Rainey into custody without incident,” the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement. “During an interview at Barnett Police Station in Montego Bay, Rainey acknowledged his identity and admitted that he’d overstayed his visa. The visa he was issued in 2011 was valid for six months.”
Rainey was returned to the U.S. and was booked into the Paulding jail Friday. He was being held without bond Friday, booking records show.
“I am so proud of the teamwork that has been exhibited in this case,” Paulding Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in a statement. “I know many people had given up hope that we would ever be able to get Rainey behind bars again, but we never quit trying to locate him. I want to thank the men and women of the United States Marshals Service, along with the authorities in Jamaica, for helping us bring this alleged child molester back to Paulding County so he can face a jury of his peers.
“It is only with state, local, federal and foreign law enforcement officials working together that we were able to get him behind bars in Paulding County,” Gulledge added. “I want our citizens and community to know that we will never give up on our victims, no matter how long it takes to get the suspect in custody.”
Anyone who may have been a victim of Rainey is asked to contact Paulding detectives by calling 770-443-3010 or sending a tip via the free Paulding sheriff mobile app.
