Suspect in an Enid child sex crime is in custody

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ A man suspected of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old Enid girl is behind bars. <br/><br/>Court records show Charles Franklin Higgs fled Garfield County in late May after learning Enid

Tuesday, September 14th 2004, 6:02 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ A man suspected of sexually assaulting a 5-year-old Enid girl is behind bars.

Court records show Charles Franklin Higgs fled Garfield County in late May after learning Enid police were investigating allegations against him.

The 57-year-old was arrested Friday in Boone County, Illinois.

Higgs was charged in July with first-degree rape and lewd molestation in connection with the girl's allegations against him.

He remains in the Garfield County Jail on a 25-thousand dollar bond after making his initial appearance on those charges today. He is due back in court October 20th for a bond appearance.

Higgs had been registered as a sex offender in Florida before moving to Enid. He has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1969.

He faces up to life in prison if convicted of rape and molestation.