U.S. Marshals capture fugitive in Virginia, wanted for sexual abuse in Marion

CEDAR RAPIDS — The U.S. Marshals Service in Virginia arrested a man Wednesday wanted on several charges of sexual abuse in Linn County.

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A warrant was issued in March for Jonathan Christopher Walton, 22, in connection with six charges of third-degree sexual abuse, according to the U.S. Marshals Service of the Northern District of Iowa. Walton, who is from Virginia, is accused of traveling to Iowa to have sex with a minor.

On March 12, Marion police investigators contacted the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force requesting assistance to find Walton. Task force officers began to follow up on leads throughout Iowa and developed information indicating Walton had fled to Virginia following the reports of abuse.

According to the marshals, officials began coordinating with marshals in Virginia, who narrowed their search Wednesday to a residence in Rice, Va. Marshals approached Walton shortly after 3 p.m. and he eventually surrendered and was arrested without incident.

Walton was transported for processing and he will remain in Iowa marshals’ custody until extradition to Iowa.

Walton hasn’t been charged yet. He will be brought back and will have an initial appearance in Linn County District Court.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the federal government’s primary agency for fugitive investigations. Nationwide, 60 local task forces are dedicated to violent crime reduction by locating and apprehending wanted criminals.

The Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force is comprised of officers from the U.S. Marshals Service; Cedar Rapids, Waterloo and Marion police departments; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; and Iowa Department of Corrections.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com