Sexual assault suspect caught

A quick-thinking officer trick-or-treating with his daughter in South Carolina helped nab a man wanted in connection with the sexual abuse of an Antioch child, Lake County sheriff's officials said Thursday.

Lake County Sgt. Christopher Thompson said a warrant had been issued for the arrest of Jimmy L. Lawrence, 23, formerly of Antioch, charging him with assaulting the 12-year-old daughter of a woman he was living with.

The assault was alleged to have occurred in June and July of 2006, he said.

After the girl's mother reported the assault, police investigated, then put out a warrant for Lawrence's arrest, police said.

But before Lawrence could be taken into custody, Thompson said, he fled to South Carolina.

Police said they uncovered evidence Lawrence could be in Marlboro County, S.C., and gave county police there a description and photo of him.

On Halloween in Marlboro County, Thompson said, an off-duty officer taking his daughter trick-or-treating noticed Lawrence walking into a store after young children in costumes. The officer called in on-duty police, and Lawrence was arrested without incident.

"A very alert and astute officer down there spotted him, which is great," Thompson said.

Lawrence was charged with one count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and three counts of attempted aggravated criminal sexual abuse. All are felonies.

Lawrence has waived extradition and is expected to be brought to Lake County within a week to face the charges, according to Thompson.

If convicted, Lawrence will face up to 60 years in prison.

"Our hats go off to the quick-acting members of the Marlboro County, South Carolina, Sheriff's Office," Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said in a news release. "I also praise the diligent intelligence work of our warrants division in locating this predator and getting him off the streets."