A “dangerous” felon accused of committing multiple crimes against children in Newton County was arrested Saturday, authorities said.
Ronnie Floyd Maxwell was taken into custody in Smyrna, Tennessee, two days after deputies circulated his photo and said they were searching for him in the Covington area, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Caitlin Jett. He was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service with the help of Newton County deputies and is being held in a Tennessee jail while he awaits extradition.
Authorities on Friday said Maxwell was likely armed and possibly hiding somewhere outdoors. A $500 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest.
No other details were provided about how authorities tracked him to Tennessee.
The charges against him include rape, sodomy/aggravated sodomy, child molestation/aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, failure to register as a sex offender and probation violation. He also will be charged with several traffic offenses, including fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
Maxwell was released from state prison in May 2018 after serving time for aggravated child molestation, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records. He was sentenced to 15 years for an October 2002 crime in Newton County. He earlier served five years in prison for unrelated crimes.
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