The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help to locate a man who allegedly assaulted a child in Martinsville Wednesday night.
Lucas John Donley, 36, of 1632 Carroll Ave., Roanoke, is wanted by authorities on several charges in connection with a December 28 incident.
According to a release, the Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center received a call at 6 p.m., regarding a child who had been sexually assaulted at the Raceway Inn, located at 1044 Memorial Blvd., Martinsville.
Deputies responded to the Raceway Inn and discovered that a 6-year-old child had briefly been left in Donley’s care.
When the parents returned, they alleged the child had been sexually assaulted, and immediately called 9-1-1. Donley allegedly fled the scene.
Deputies located him traveling on Barrows Mill Road in his blue 2014 Kia Forte. When deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Donley allegedly fled at a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued the Forte East on Virginia 57, towards Pittsylvania County at speeds in excess of 100 mph.
During the course of the pursuit, the Forte allegedly struck a citizen’s vehicle, drove into the oncoming lane of travel almost striking several other vehicles, and turned the headlights off while driving at high speeds. Due to the number of motorists traveling the road, and the increasing risk to them, deputies determined it was necessary to stop the pursuit.
Investigators issued arrest six warrants on Donley for:
- Felony elude law enforcement
- Aggravated sexual battery
- Forcible sodomy
- three counts taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial relationship.
Donley is described as a white male, 5′ 9″, 270 lbs., with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen in a blue 2014 Kia Forte, Virginia Registration VWM-5364. He was wearing a gray hoodie shirt and jeans.
In addition, Donley was already a registered sex offender on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.
Anyone with information about Donley’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at (276) 638-8751 or Crimestoppers at 63-CRIME (632-7463). The Crimestoppers Program offers rewards up to $2,500 for information related to crime. The nature of the crime and the substance of the information determine the amount of reward paid.
