FARMINGTON — A Connecticut man charged with unlawful sexual contact with a child was arrested in that state and is back in Maine on a five-year-old warrant out of Franklin County.

David Rhoades, 45, of Taftville, Conn., left Maine in 2008 during an investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department about an alleged sex crime between Rhoades and a female child, according to Lt. David St. Laurent of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department.

He was indicted in Franklin County in 2008.

Rhoades is a Connecticut native, but was living in Eustis at the time, he said.

Rhoades was arrested in Connecticut two weeks ago following a traffic stop, according to St. Laurent.

St. Laurent said the girl told police in 2008 that Rhoades touched her inappropriately.

The case was initiated by a Department of Health and Human Services referral and according to court documents the sexual contact happened between 2004 and 2008.

“We interviewed several witnesses, but by the time we went to find Mr. Rhoades, he had taken off,” said. St. Laurent, adding the extradition to Maine warrant was based on the 2008 indictment.

The Franklin County grand jury indicted Rhoades, then of Eustis, in November 2008 on 12 counts of unlawful sexual contact, according to a Morning Sentinel report at the time.

St. Laurent said he worked with Connecticut detectives to investigate the case after Rhoades fled and had the warrant for his arrest reinstated every year. He said Rhoades was difficult to track because he didn’t stay in one place long.

Rhoades is facing a charge of unlawful sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. The class B felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

He is being held at the Franklin County jail and his initial appearance in Franklin County Court was initially set for today but rescheduled to Monday at 1 p.m.

Kaitlin Schroeder — 861-9252
kschroeder@mainetoday.com

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