Alabama fugitive arrested in Taneytown; Accused of rape and child molestation – Baltimore Sun

An Alabama man wanted by police for alleged sex crimes against children was found Friday in Taneytown and taken to the Carroll County Detention Center.

Scott Staples, 52, was wanted on a warrant and was expected to be extradited to Alabama, according to a news release from the Taneytown Police Department.

Staples is charged with first-degree rape, sodomy and two counts of sexual abuse of a child under 13, all felonies, according to the news release. According to court documents, Staples was also charged in Carroll County District Court as a fugitive from justice.

Police received information last week that Staples was possibly in Carroll County, and officers waited for him outside a home in Taneytown and then arrested him without incident Friday at 4 p.m., the release said.

Court records show Staples was living in Hampstead in 1996 when he was charged with third-degree sex offense in Carroll County District Court. Staples was sentenced to one year of probation in Carroll County Circuit Court at the time for a fourth-degree sex offense.

Maryland classifies sex offenders into three levels. Level I sex offenders, considered the least heinous of the three levels, were found guilty of committing, attempting to commit or conspiring to commit crimes such as sex trafficking, possession of child pornography, transmitting information about minors for further prosecution, or visual surveillance with sexual intent, the presentation of misleading Internet content or a fourth degree sexual offense.

Staples is not currently registered as a sex offender.

In Maryland, Level I sex offenders must register with the state every few months for 15 years. Level II offenders must register for 25 years, and those who commit Level III sexual offenses, including rape, sodomy and sexual abuse of a minor, remain on Maryland's registry for life.

Alabama does not have a grading system for sex offenders, but there is a juvenile sex offender classification for those who commit sex crimes against children. All adult sex offenders are required to register for life in Alabama.

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