Marshals nab rape suspect

Published 9:36 pm Friday, April 3, 2009

A 19-year-old Georgia man is in custody and charged with first-degree rape of a juvenile Clanton girl in March.

Michael Isaiah Gilbert of Stone Mountain, Ga. is currently being held at the Chilton County Jail on $50,000 bond and will make his first court appearance later this month in a preliminary hearing.

Clanton investigator Lt. Keith Maddox said Gilbert had been transported to UAB Medical Center following a March 13 shooting, where he had been shot in the upper left leg.

After receiving treatment and before Clanton authorities could charge him with the rape, Gilbert reportedly fled the hospital and Alabama. He was captured this week by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in the Birmingham area at the request of Clanton authorities.

“Gilbert had been living in the West End area and the victim’s family knew of him,” Maddox said. “We’re just glad he is now in custody and thank the Marshals for their help.”

First-degree rape is a Class A felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison.