Lawrence man charged with Felony Rape, Sodomy of 12 year-old arrested on Yellow Creek
Ashland, Ky. (January 25, 2017) – James Gartin, age 53, of Ponderosa Court in Ashland was arrested this morning by the Kentucky State Police in the Yellow Creek area of Lawrence County.
He was arrested without incident and transported to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville.
Gartin was a wanted fugitive from Lawrence County and the Post 14 KSP had issued a call to the public to help find him just before his arrest.
Gartin is wanted by the Kentucky State Police on the following charges issued in Lawrence County:
Rape 1st Degree
Sodomy 1st Degree (X2)
Endangering the welfare of a minor
On Friday, January 13, 2017 an investigation began into the sexual assault of a female juvenile under the age of 12. It was reported Mr. Gartin became a friend of the family and was able to gain access to the juvenile. Over an extended period of time Mr. Gartin engaged in sexual intercourse and sodomy with the juvenile. (Any other specific details of the investigation are not available for release.) During the course of the investigation evidence was obtained resulting in arrest warrants being issued for Mr. Gartin.
Mr. Gartin has a listed address on Ponderosa Court in Ashland, but is known to frequent the Clifford and Yellow Creek areas of Lawrence County.
The investigation is ongoing by Det. Sam Lawson.
