Fugitive accused of sex crimes arrested at MS Coast construction site, U.S. Marshals say

Authorities arrested a fugitive on Wednesday who is accused of sex crimes in Missouri and was working at a Mississippi Coast construction site, U.S. Marshals announced.

James Wilkins, 51, was arrested Wednesday morning at a construction site in Ocean Springs, a news release from the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force said.

Authorities allege Wilkins sexually abused a family member beginning when the child was 5. The abuse lasted between 2005 and 2009, authorities said.

Wilkins was wanted on several charges in Texas County, Missouri. He faces charges of statutory sodomy with a person less than 14 years old, attempted statutory sodomy with a person under 14 years old and and sexual misconduct or attempted involving a child under 15 years old, according to the release.

Those charges came after the victim came forward and authorities issued a warrant in October 2022, according to the release.

Wilkins was also wanted by Mississippi authorities in Lauderdale County on four counts of sexual battery, the release said. That case is separate from the charges in Missouri but also involved a victim under 15, authorities said. Laudredale County authorities issued Wilkins’ warrant in June 2023.

U.S. Marshals began searching for Wilkins on March 5.

They believed he was working for a construction company on the Coast, they said. U.S. Marshals canvased the area and saw workers replacing a roof on Teringo Circle in Ocean Springs, the release said.

They surveilled the area and saw a man who fit Wilkins description working on the roof, according to the release.

U.S. Marshals ordered the crew off the roof and took Wilkins into custody without incident, they said.

Wilkins was booked Wednesday into the Jackson County Jail pending extradition to Lauderdale County and Missouri.