FUGITIVE SEXUAL PREDATOR CAPTURED IN SPRINGFIELD

James M. Wahlrab, United States Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio announces the arrest of Terry Thompson.  Thompson was wanted by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for violating his probation and by the Rankin County (Mississippi) Sheriffs Office for failure to register as a sexual offender. Thomson was originally charged with raping a 12 year old child and ultimately convicted of touching a child for lustful purposes. Thompson received a ten year sentence with seven of the years suspended. Subsequent to his release, Thompson violated the conditions of his probation and a warrant for his arrest was issued in May, 2004. Mississippi law enforcement officials believe Thompson fled Mississippi to avoid capture.

The Rankin County Sheriffs Office contacted the United States Marshals Service last December and requested assistance in locating and capturing Thompson. Due to the severity and nature of his original offenses, the U.S. Marshals made locating and arresting Thompson a high priority.

Through investigative leads developed by the U.S. Marshals, it was confirmed that Thompson fled to Ohio and was residing in the Springfield area under the false name Terry Thomas. Under immense pressure from U.S. Marshals, Thompson began running out of places to hide. At approximately 1030 p.m. this past Thursday evening, U.S. Marshals located Thompson hiding in a house in the 2000 block of Gerald Avenue. Thompson was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and officers from the Springfield Police Department. Also residing in the house with Thompson was his girlfriend and her infant child. The girlfriend informed Marshals that Thompson had never told her about his criminal past or his status as a sexual predator. Thompson was transported to the Clark County Jail where he is awaiting extradition back to Mississippi.

The U.S. Marshals Service was America’s first federal law enforcement agency and each year arrests more fugitives than all other federal law enforcement agencies combined.