Updated 10/9/19
A Petersburg man wanted for 10 counts of statutory rape by an authority figure is now in custody.
Andrew Wade Beard, 30, of 12 Orchard Cemetery Road, turned himself in to authorities earlier this month.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department had posted on its Facebook page that investigators were seeking tips on how to locate the suspect and later saw a post noted that Beard had been taken into custody in another state.
Beard’s arraignment in Lincoln County Circuit Court will take place on October 15th.
Statutory rape involves a victim who is at least 13 but less than 18 years old and the defendant is at least four years older than the victim, authorities said. The defendant was in a position of trust or had supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim or with parental or professional, occupational status over the victim and used a position of trust to accomplish the rape.
Statutory rape is a Class E felony.
Beard is being held at the Lincoln County Jail on $50,000 bond.
