JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Deputies have arrested a 68-year-old man accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old child multiple times.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said that Thabit Nadir Al-Mateen from Cottondale was arrested on Thursday.
Deputies said that back in February, they were notified about an alleged secual abuse case involving a 15-year-old. As the investigation continued, it was discovered that sometime in January, Al-Mateen had abused the child on more than one occasion.
On the 17 of Febraury, investigators got an arrest warrant for Al-Mateen, charging him with sexual battery and false imprisonment. They said that they tried several times to find Al-Mateen, but were unsuccessful.
During this time, investigators learned that he could have been hiding out at any of his family's or friend's houses.
JSCO said that they contacted the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force for help finding him. During the week long search that took place afterwords, they found that Al-Mateen had traveled to multiple states, including Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and North Carolina.
On Thursday, Al-Mateen was taken into custody in North Carolina by the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force.
He was taken to the Jackson County Correctional Facility to await first appearance.
