PANAMA CITY, FL (WTXL) -- A traffic accident helped deputies arrest a 32-year-old man in connection with a missing teenager from Leon County.
According to Bay County Deputies, Joel Noda was involved in a traffic accident Tuesday. Deputies said that Noda and a female passenger ran from the scene of the accident but were later caught by deputies. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment for injuries they sustained in the accident, said deputies.
At the hospital the female passenger told health care workers that she might be pregnant, and Noda was probably the father, said deputies.
The juvenile said that she had met Noda online a few weeks before and Noda drove to Leon County to take her back to Bay County to live with him.
The juvenile told deputies that the relationship was cononsensual at first, but when she began to refuse his advances, he began to force himself on her.
Noda was charged with Interference with Child Custody, Lewd and Lascivious Battery with a Victim 12 years of age up to 16 years of age, and Traveling to Meet a Minor for Sex.
