CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Fairmont man who has been on the run since November is now in custody.
Daniel Jones, 57, was arrested today around 10 a.m. by the U.S. Marshals Service in the Northern District of Florida in Bonifay. Jones was wanted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Department after failing to appear on the final days of trial. Jones was facing multiple charges of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust and first-degree sexual abuse.
Jones is accused molesting a girl under age 12 who was the daughter of the woman he was dating at the time. The activity is alleged to have occurred from Dec. 25, 2014 through June 4, 2015 in Rivesville.
On Nov. 15, 2018 Jones was free on bond from these charges and in the midst of a criminal trial. Jones had taken the stand in his own defense that afternoon, but then failed to appear the following day. A Marion County judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest for failing to appear. Also on Nov. 16, 2018, Law Enforcement Officers in Harrison County responded to a 911 call in Enterprise near Jone’s Towing business in which gunshots were heard during the call. Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies located Jones truck with what appeared to be bullet holes in the windshield and a small amount of blood inside the vehicle. Following this incident, Harrison County Detectives began treating Jones as a missing person.
The U.S. Marshals Service was requested to assist in locating Jones on November 20, 2018. Deputy Marshals, Task Force Officers, and other law enforcement officers spent the next two months conducting numerous interviews of associates and investigating multiple leads. Their efforts paid off on Saturday when they learned that Jones had fled to Florida. A lead request was sent to the U.S. Marshals Service in the Northern District of Florida early this morning. Within hours, Jones was located and arrested without incident while attempting to enter a vehicle.
Jones will appear in a Holmes County, FL court before extradition back to WV. He will be lodged in the Holmes County Jail.