Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods is asking the public for help to locate a man who is wanted for three counts of failure by a sexual predator to comply with registration requirements.
During his regular “Wanted by Woods Wednesday” segment on Facebook, Sheriff Woods asked for assistance with finding 38-year-old Ricky Lee Spradling.
In 2003, Spradling was convicted of sexual battery in Bradford County. Two years later, in 2005, he was convicted of lewd or lascivious molestation in Putnam County.
When Spradling was released from prison in 2010, he was convicted in Marion County for false imprisonment of a 14-year-old girl. According to MCSO, Spradling grabbed the girl by the wrist while she was walking with her brother, but the girl managed to get away. After his conviction, Spradling received the maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
“Because Ricky is a sexual predator, he has to follow laws that require him to register certain information with us and update his driver’s license whenever he moves,” said Sheriff Woods. Due to Spradling’s failure to follow these laws, MCSO detectives have obtained a warrant for his arrest.
“Citizens, now we need your help getting this sexual predator back off the streets and into jail so that we – and you, the community – know where he is and so that he doesn’t victimize any more children,” stated Sheriff Woods.
If anyone has any information on Spradling’s whereabouts, Sheriff Woods asks that you call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP (7867) and reference 23-20 in your tip. If you use Crime Stoppers and your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.