MARIANNA — After a more than three-week-long manhunt, investigators arrested a man sought in connection with a group sexual battery on a juvenile, according to a Jackson County Sheriff’s Office news release.
Orinthid “O.J.” Hayes was arrested Wednesday at about 10:30 p.m. after he attempted to jump from a second story window at the Marianna Garden Apartments to escape authorities, JCSO reported. Officers had the window covered, and Hayes subsequently surrendered without incident.
Hayes was one of two men wanted in connection with a June 7 sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl, who allegedly had been provided with drugs and alcohol. Sometime after 3:30 a.m. she passed out in a truck in the parking lot of Club Secrets located on Forehand Road, just south of Marianna. She reported that she awoke to being sexually assaulted by Elliott “Ratchet” Batson as the truck was being driven by Hayes, JCSO reported.
At some point, the subjects swapped places and Batson began to drive as Hayes sexually assaulted the victim. She was dumped at the Marianna Garden Apartments after the attack and had to walk home across town at around 5 a.m., officers reported.
Batson was arrested at the apartments the day following the incident, but Hayes avoided arrest until Wednesday.
Batson and Hayes were charged with sexual battery on a person over 12 years of age involving multiple perpetrators. The mitigating circumstance of multiple offenders upgrades the charge to a life felony.
A woman named Trina Shatelle Bellamy also was arrested June 12 and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and delivery of a controlled substance to a minor, based on evidence that she provided the victim with alcohol and marijuana on the evening leading up to the assault, JCSO reported.