Buchanan County man arrested on sex abuse charges

BUCHANAN COUNTY - A Masonville man living in Texas has been returned to Iowa to face charges related to a sex abuse investigation.

According to the Buchanan County Attorney's Office, in August 2014, the sheriff's office began investigating a report of ongoing sexual abuse alleged to have occurred between February 2002 and February 2008. Authorities said 37-year-old Joshua Jarrett abused an underage girl while living in Winthrop.

Police said when the investigation began, Jarrett fled the state. He was tracked by law enforcement as he moved to several different states. On March 17, the Rockwell County, Texas Sheriff's Office arrested Jarrett. He waived extradition and was returned to Buchanan County on March 27.

Jarrett is in custody on four counts of second-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony; four counts of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony; and avoiding prosecution, a Class D felony. His bond has been set at $250,000.