A Lake Wales man, suspected of sexual battery on two children, was located today in Virginia, deputies said.
Charles L. Bailey, 68, fled Lake Wales, with the help of his wife, Viola Bailey, after he learned that an investigation had been launched last year.
Bailey is wanted for two counts of sexual battery on a child less than 12 years of age and distributing obscene material to a minor, Polk County deputies said. Over the last several years, Bailey repeatedly sexually battered two girls, deputies also say.
In January, Viola Bailey reported her husband, Charles missing to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. She told deputies the couple stopped at a store in Duette and Charles fled with a pistol, threatening to kill himself.
Deputies determined subsequently that Viola had lied about her husband’s disappearance and instead had dropped him off at intersection of SR 301 and CR 62 (Parish, Florida). She was subsequently charged with filing a false police report.
Working with the U.S. Marshals’ Office, investigators learned Viola had been making trips to Dry Fork, Virginia. Through coordination with members of the US Marshals Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force in Roanoke, investigators initiated contact at a residence located at 1050 Sportsman Road in Dry Fork, Virginia, where both Charles and Viola were found.
Charles Bailey was booked into the Pittsylvania County Jail in Virginia, without bond. He is awaiting extradition to Polk County.
