A 26-year-old man from Costa Mesa, California, wanted on rape and kidnapping warrants out of Circleville, was arrested in Seneca County after deputies found him hiding in a barn. Authorities say he was taken into custody without incident and remained jailed while awaiting transfer to Pickaway County.
According to TiffinOhio.net and court records, the suspect is Riley Q. Flores, 26, of Costa Mesa. He faces two first-degree felony counts, rape and kidnapping, that were filed June 24 in Circleville Municipal Court under case number 2600530. Investigators say the charges stem from alleged conduct on June 23, and that Circleville police asked for help finding Flores after he fled the scene and was believed to be unarmed.
Deputies tracked what they say was Flores’ cellphone to a rural property north of U.S. 224. They located him hiding in a barn near the northwest corner of U.S. 224 and South State Route 19, and reported that he was in custody by about 4:35 p.m. Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick W. Stevens praised the outcome, saying he was “proud of all of our personnel involved in the apprehension.”
Charges and what they carry
Rape under Ohio law is set out in the Ohio Revised Code, and kidnapping is detailed in the Ohio Revised Code. Both offenses are generally treated as felonies of the first degree, and the statutes describe enhanced penalties when kidnapping is used to facilitate sexual activity or when other aggravating factors apply. Convictions can result in lengthy prison sentences along with post-conviction sex offender registration requirements.
Who made the arrest and what’s next
The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, based in Tiffin and led by Sheriff Fredrick W. Stevens, handled the arrest. Deputies from the enforcement unit were assisted by the Circleville and Bloomville police departments, according to TiffinOhio.net. The Sheriff’s Office website lists Stevens as the elected sheriff along with the agency’s Tiffin mailing address.
The Circleville Police Department lists its headquarters at the Circleville Police Department. Court records state that Flores was booked into the Seneca County Jail and remained in custody pending transfer to Circleville for arraignment. At the time of reporting, court files did not list an attorney for him.
The charges are allegations, and Flores is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. This story will be updated as additional court filings or official statements are released.
