DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Justin Smith has been taken into custody in Florida after fleeing the state of Ohio on the last day of his trial over one month ago.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer tells 2 NEWS that he was captured by deputies at a townhome near Fort Walton Beach just after 6 p.m. Friday.
He has been charged as a fugitive from justice and transported to the Okaloosa County Jail.
Smith had reportedly been staying in the area for a couple of weeks.
There is no word yet on when he will be extradited back to Ohio.
Smith, 41, was found guilty on eight counts including unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of sexual battery and two counts of sexual imposition, and disappeared just before closing arguments in his trial were set to begin.
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He found a way to remove his ankle monitoring device on October 31 in Franklin and was later seen in Kentucky and Tennessee before being caught in Florida.
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2 NEWS is working to learn more about this developing story and will provide updates as they become available.
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