A Scioto County man charged with raping a 4-year-old girl, has been taken into custody, after a warrant was issued by Scioto County authorities.

Phillip Harmon, 24, of Lincoln Street, West Portsmouth, was charged with one count of rape - a first-degree felony.

"We first got the complaint on May 21," said Capt. David Hall of Scioto County Sheriff's Office. "The complaint came from the child's family that the child had been sexually assaulted."

He said an investigation followed the report.

"We actually investigated him, interviewed him, and as a result of that investigation, took it to a grand jury; and we got an indictment warrant for his arrest," Hall said.

"We just made the arrest about 20 minutes ago," he said, at 4:15 p.m. Thursday.

Hall said no official court date has been set for Harmon, but that date should be scheduled soon.

"He will be assigned to a common pleas court judge, and at that time, the judge will arraign him," he said.

Hall also said he did not find a prior record on Harmon.

"I don't think he has ever been incarcerated before here in our county," he said.

Hall said Harmon is being held in Scioto County Jail without bond, and the bond will not be set until his first court appearance.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said the successful apprehension of Harmon was the direct result of a joint effort between the Scioto County Sheriff's Office detectives and Scioto County Children Services.

Donini said anyone with information regarding the case should contact Detective Jodi Conkel at (740) 351-1091. The sheriff said all calls would remain anonymous.

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.