Missing juvenile found, Redding man arrested - News - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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Missing juvenile found, Redding man arrested Francis Marcel Ward Thursday Jan 19, 2017 at 4:17 PM Jan 19, 2017 at 4:17 PM What started as an Oregon State Trooper assisting disabled motorists on the side of the freeway south of Ashland led to the return of a runaway teen and the arrest of a Northern California man for sex crimes. Francis Marcel Ward, 21, of Redding, California, was arrested Wednesday morning on sexual abuse charges after he was found with a 13-year-old Josephine County girl who had been reported missing. Police found Ward's vehicle disabled while on southbound Interstate 5 at milepost 9, according to a release issued by Oregon State Police. During the assist, the trooper identified the girl as having been reported missing from Grants Pass. Upon questioning, Ward allegedly admitted to police that he knew the victim was only 13 when he engaged in numerous sexual encounters with the girl between Nov. 1 and Jan. 18, according to court documents filed in the case. The release says Ward met the juvenile through an adult dating website.  Ward faces four felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse and a felony count of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration in Josephine County Circuit Court. His initial court appearance is set for Jan. 26, Josephine County court records show. He remained lodged in the Josephine County Jail Thursday afternoon, according to jail records.