A Mena Fugitive is Captured in Oklahoma

BY LEANN DILBECK –

A Mena man wanted by the Mena Police Department was captured just before 9 a.m. Sunday morning. His third arrest was made possible by a routine traffic stop by the Jenks, Okla. Police Department, at which time they discovered that an outstanding Arkansas warrant for violating the conditions of his bond that was issued by Mena on April 17, 2015.

Michael Laws, age 28, is accused of, on several occasions beginning September 27, 2013 and continuing until September 25, 2014, engaging in multiple acts of both deviate sexual activity and sexual intercourse with a minor female, who was not his spouse, and over whom he had a position of trust or authority, specifically as a volunteer church leader at The Crossing Church, constituting a Class A Felony.  Laws was not a paid staff member of the church and was removed immediately when the situation was learned.

Officials have not released the name of the victim since she was a minor at the time of the alleged crimes but did confirm that he has been charged with a Felony because he held a position of “trust and authority.”

Laws entered a “not guilty” plea and was released on a $10,000 bond with conditions of having no contact with the victim.  Laws was arrested a second time and jailed for failing to obey those conditions.  Upon the release from the second arrest, law enforcement were tipped off that Laws and the victim were at a local park, at which time Laws fled from police and has evaded them until his capture today.

Jenks Police Department is holding Laws awaiting extradition orders from Mena.  Trial is set for June 25.  All persons are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

http://mypulsenews.com/laws-charged-with-sexual-assault-of-minor-2/

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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