William Ward Surrenders to U.S. Marshals Task Force

William Raymond Ward surrendered to members of the United States Marshals Service's Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division
(C.U.F.F.E.D.) Fugitive Task Force this morning in Charleston, WV. Ward, a 53 year old Boone County resident, was wanted by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department for Failure to Appear for trial on several counts of Sexual Assault and Incest. The warrant for Ward’s arrest was issued in Fayette County Circuit Court on January 23, 2007. Ward, a former corrections officer, was convicted in absentia of these charges and faces a lengthy prison term.

Ward’s Failure to Appear had sparked an exhaustive fugitive investigation that involved numerous law enforcement agencies and spanned several counties in West Virginia. These efforts lead to Ward’s peaceful surrender to Deputy U.S. Marshals this morning.

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) sponsors the C.U.F.F.E.D. Task Force that includes nineteen state and local agencies who participate and contribute to the pursuit of the Southern District of West Virginia’s combined fugitive efforts. Last year, the participating members were responsible for the closure of 1,039 felony warrants.