FAYETTEVILLE — A three-month man-hunt for a former Washington County deputy accused of rape ended in Tahlequah, Okla., on Friday.
U.S. Marshals spokesman Dewaine Allen said Gary Wilson, 42, of Fayetteville was arrested by deputies in connection with a felony rape warrant.
“It was a combined effort from state and local law enforcement in Cherokee County,” Allen said. “He will eventually be extradited to Arkansas.”
Wilson, who is listed on Washington County’s most-wanted list, was previously considered to be armed and dangerous by marshals because of his background in law enforcement. He was employed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office from February 2000 to August 2005 and from October 2005 to April 2008.
Wilson is accused of raping a 16-year-old relative, according to an arrest affidavit.
Arkansas State Police were notified Oct. 13 by the Children’s Safety Center of a reported rape.
The girl told investigators Wilson had been raping her since she was 10, with the most recent incident occurring Oct. 9, according to the affidavit.
Wilson fled from officers when the warrant was issued Nov. 5.
Investigators searched Wilson’s home and seized a bedroom carpet, bedding, pillows, a portion of a mattress and box springs, carpet cleaner and two red sweatshirts. The items were taken in as evidence and sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
Allen said Wilson was arrested at a home in Tahlequah on Friday, but additional details were still being processed Saturday.
“We’ve closed out the fugitive aspect of the case,” he said.
Allen said he plans to issue a news release Monday, once additional information has been gathered.
Wilson initially resigned from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office after being suspended for routinely missing mandatory court appearances and running late for briefing sessions, according to county documents released in response to an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request.
He was rehired a couple months later, but was fired in 2008 for showing nude photos of his wife on this cell phone to at least two co-workers and an inmate.
His then-wife, a former Sheriff’s Office employee, had been fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a federal inmate, which is against department policy.
Wilson previously worked full time as a first-class deputy. He was decertified from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training on June 10, 2008.
After divorcing his wife, Wilson remarried another ex-wife, former deputy Sgt. Lori Schmidt.
Schmidt, who was recently fired from the Sheriff ’s Office, previously made headlines when she and a co-worker filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder, Maj. Rick Hoyt and former Capt. Randy Osburn.
Helder and Hoyt are accused of improperly dismissing a sexual harassment complaint filed by Schmidt against Osburn. The case has been set for trial June 13.
Hoyt said Schmidt was terminated before the Sheriff ’s Office became aware of the rape allegations against Wilson.
Wilson and Schmidt were still married when the warrant for his arrest was issued. Since 2003, they have operated Clear Creek Pets, a dog breeding business near their home. Wilson is also known to work in construction.
A $75,000 bond has been recommended by the prosecutor’s office.