A Louisiana man has been sexually assaulting young girls since the 1970s, according to police. His alleged crimes caught up with him earlier this month, thanks to a tipster.
ABC 3 reports that police received a tip on April 1 in connection to 71-year-old Harvey Joseph Fountain. According to the Rapides County Sheriff’s Office, police arrested the man on April 9, following a detailed investigation into the allegations against him.
“According to initial reports, Harvey Joseph Fountain 71, of 301 Bragg Street Pineville perpetrated the sexually based crimes upon juveniles while at various locations that he resided, in the Pineville area,” the Rapides County Sheriff’s Office wrote on a Facebook news release. “The crimes allegedly began in the early 1970’s and continued through the early 1980’s.”
For Release to the MediaOn April 1st, 2019 deputies received a complaint of possible criminal sexual conduct involving…
Posted by Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office on Friday, April 12, 2019
Authorities initially charged Fountain with 50 preliminary counts of first-degree rape. By April 12, investigators found other reported victims while the suspect was behind bars. His charges were upgraded to an additional 50 counts.
Due to the nature of the crimes, the case will go before a grand jury for indictment, KALB reports. Fountain remains behind bars on $1 million bond.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information in connection to Harvey Joseph Fountain is urged to contact Detective Jason Brumfield at 318- 484-7350 or Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867.
[Feature Photo: Harvey Fountain/Rapides County Sheriff’s Office]
