Multi-state fugitive caught and arrested in Ocean Springs

A man wanted in multiple states on sex crime charges was located in Ocean Springs on Wednesday morning and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force.

51-year-old James Wilkins was located at a construction site in Ocean Springs. He was wanted in Texas County, Missouri, on charges of statutory sodomy on a person less than 14 years old and attempted statutory sodomy, sexual misconduct or attempted sexual misconduct on a child under 15.

Wilkins is accused of sexually abusing a family member that began was the child was about 5 years old and occurred between 2005 and 2009. A warrant for his arrest was issued in October 2022 when the victim came forward.

U.S. Marshals Service got the case on March 5 of this year.

Wilkins also is wanted in Lauderdale County in Mississippi on four counts of sexual battery. The victim is not the same as the one in Missouri and also is under the age of 15. Lauderdale County issued a warrant in June 2023.

Information was discovered that Wilkins might be on the Coast and working in construction. Marshals began searching an saw a work crew replacing a roof on Teringo Circle in Ocean Springs. Marshals saw a person believed to be Wilkins and ordered the crew off the roof. Wilkins was then taken into custody.

Wilkins was taken to the Jackson County jail and is awaiting extradition to Lauderdale County and to Missouri.

“Anytime anyone is accused of these types of crimes, it is extremely important to take them into custody as quickly as possible,” said Jeremy Stilwell, Senior Inspector for the Gulf Coast Regional
Fugitive Task Force. “We were able to locate James Wilkins only 8 days after receiving the case which shows the hard work and dedication which was put into finding this multi-state fugitive.”