Rape suspect arrested in Arizona

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
A man who disappeared from Russellville after being accused of first-degree rape two years ago has been arrested by authorities in Tucson, Ariz.
Marvin Arturo Ardon, 25, formerly of 16081 U.S. 43 in Russellville, was arrested Thursday afternoon after his identity matched a missing person's report on a national computer base.
Ardon was arrested in October 2006 and charged with forcibly raping a 16 year-old girl in April of that year.
He was out of jail on $75,000 bond when his wife reported that he had been abducted by two men at their home.
"We had questions at that time if he was really abducted," said Police Chief Chris Hargett.
Investigators said Ardon was accused of raping a 16-year-old family acquaintance. Reports indicate the rape took place at the victim's house while the girl's parents were not at home. She notified her family of the attack in August of that year.
Russellville Police Lt. Scotty Lowery said Pima County, Ariz., officials called Thursday to see if the man they had in custody was the same person local officials were looking for.
"We responded back that it was the person we listed as missing," Lowery said.
Officials said Ardon's identification registered on the missing person database during a traffic stop.
An extradition hearing is set for Tuesday.
If he fights extradition, local officials will prepare paper work to prove his identity and then work with the governor's office to have him returned to Alabama.