Authorities have arrested a convicted child rapist who escaped from the Van Buren County Jail Monday morning.
37-year-old Joel Ernest Blanton apprehended yesterday evening in Warren County. Authorities said they located Blanton Salem Road, between Bluff Springs Road and Faulkner Springs Road.
Officials said he escaped around 1:00 a.m. Monday while being held for his sentencing date on Wednesday.
Blanton was found guilty April 17th on four counts of child rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery.
