National registry helps locate suspect

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Putting a local suspect on a national law enforcement database paid big dividends for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office during the weekend.

A 25-year-old man wanted by the SCSO for allegedly assaulting a 3-year-old girl last month was arrested by law enforcement in Florida Saturday.

Christopher Tilton of Paisley, Fla., formerly of Sumter County, was taken into custody during a traffic stop by officers from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

According to the Sumter County warrant, on August 7, 2015, in the 3500 block of Ramsey Road, the suspect did sexually assault the minor victim.

The warrant for the suspect’s arrest was originally issued on Tuesday, Sept. 22. When investigators with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were unable to locate the suspect, the warrant and information regarding the suspect were placed into a national law enforcement database, which ultimately led to Tilton’s capture.

Tilton has signed extradition paperwork, and will be transported by law enforcement back to Sumter County to face his charges.