A Cincinnati man is being held in the Lorain County Jail after police say he lured and raped a young girl in Elyria.
The Elyria Police Department took Joshua Telford, 35, into custody Wednesday after U.S. Marshals arrested him in Hamilton County on Wednesday, according to a news release. Telford’s arrest follows a month-long investigation by Elyria police that began when a woman claimed someone had sex with her 12-year-old daughter.
Telford is accused of beginning communicating with the child when she was just 11 years old, eventually traveling to Elyria late last year to sexually assault her. Telford now faces the following charges:
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Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor (two counts)
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Pornographic content that caters to minors or persons with disabilities
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Disseminate material harmful to young people
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Child luring (three counts)
“We are grateful to the U.S. Marshals Service and the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team for their prompt and professional assistance,” Elyria Police Capt. Bill Lantz said in a statement. “Their cooperation and dedication helped locate and safely apprehend the suspect. Given the seriousness of these charges and the vulnerability of the victims, it is critical that the suspect be located and apprehended quickly.”
Telford is being held without bail and details of his first court appearance were not immediately available. Meanwhile, police are working to identify any other potential victims and anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 440-326-1212.