Heath Hayes

Following his arrest on Aug. 27 in New Martinsville, Heath Hayes, 32, of Chadborne, N.C., appeared before Judge Mark A. Karl in Wetzel County Circuit Court on Thursday to address extradition to North Carolina to face child molestation charges. During his hearing Hayes stated he wished to return to North Carolina to face his charges; he was remanded to the Northern Regional Jail to await extradition.

Hayes was on the run for nearly four years before authorities found and arrested him in New Martinsville Aug. 27. According to Deputy U.S. Marshal Chad Simpson, Hayes is charged by Onslow County, N.C., law enforcement with 12 counts dated from Aug. 1 to Dec. 30, 2007.

Seven are counts of first-degree sexual offense, four are charges of indecent liberties, and one is a charge of rape. Hayes will also face fugitive from justice charges.

Simpson said the victim was seven years old when the alleged incidents occurred.

The U.S. Marshals Service with the Mountain State Fugitive Task Force arrested him at 28 Rose St., New Martinsville, after a tip from the North Carolina Task Force pointed to his whereabouts in the city. Simpson said the federal marshals took charge of the warrant on June 22 after he could not be located in Chadborne or Onslow County.

Wetzel County Sheriff’s Deputies Rob Haught, Roger Spragg, and Eric Daugherty, members of the MSFTF assisted with the arrest, along with other area law enforcement officers.

Other residents of the home where Hayes was staying were not charged with harboring, according to Simpson. They claimed they had no knowledge of the charges against Hayes, though they admitted he is a friend.

An investigation is pending regarding a wallet found in the vehicle Hayes was using. Identification and charge cards in the wallet were in the name of a North Carolina resident.