BENTONVILLE -- An man accused of raping a girl he brought to the area from Chicago will be prosecuted by federal authorities.
David Shawn Duffin, 43, of Chicago was arrested April 9 in connection with rape. He was found in a Decatur apartment with a 13-year-old girl who had been reported missing from Illinois.
Duffin appeared in court Monday for an arraignment on the rape charge, but it was announced the prosecutors office would not file charges. Federal authorities will prosecute Duffin's case, said Carly Marshall, Benton County deputy prosecutor.
"We felt the federal case was strong and that it was in the best interest of justice to let them proceed with the case," Marshall said.
Detectives, using information from Chicago working a kidnapping case, found Duffin and the girl in Decatur, according to court documents.
Duffin had been communicating with the girl via the Internet since October when they lived in Chicago. Duffin and the girl left Chicago on April 4, according to court documents. The girl's parents found a note on her bed saying she was running away, according to court documents.
Sheriff's deputies were aware of the kidnapping bulletin and they knew Duffin had relatives in Decatur, said Keshia Guyll, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.
NW News on 06/24/2015