Marion County sheriff’s deputies are asking for the public’s help in locating a man charged with capital sex battery and lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim between the ages of 12 and 16.
Kevin William Ernest, 38 was arrested on the charges last year and eventually released on bond. The sheriff’s office has been able to prove that Ernest has continued to contact the victim in the case and a judge has revoked his bond, a sheriff’s office report states.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, speaking in his weekly “Wanted by Woods Wednesday” segment on Facebook, said Ernest won’t turn himself in, so the sheriff’s office needs help in locating him “before he hurts any more children.”
Anyone with information about Ernest’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 20-46 in your tip. If you use Crime Stoppers and your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.