The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office says an investigation concerning the sexual assault of a child last year resulted in the arrest of a Tennessee man.
Authorities say the investigation began in October 2025. Investigators learned a man communicated online with a minor under 13 years old. The two met but the child did not know who the man was and where he was from.
Officials say the man, later identified as 22-year-old Reuben Justice of Chattanooga, Tennessee, picked up the victim in Wapello County and took her to a short-term vacation residence in Jefferson County where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Through multiple subpoenas and search warrants for social media and online records, investigators were able to identify Justice. Authorities deciphered that Justice drove 10-11 hours from Tennessee to pick up the victim in Wapello County.
The sheriff’s office says the combined efforts of the Wapello County and Jefferson County attorneys led to multiple arrest warrants for Justice.
With the arrest warrants issued, authorities reached out to the United States Marshals Service in the eastern district of Tennessee to locate Justice. On September 10th, 2026, Justice was apprehended by the Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force and taken to the Hamilton County Jail.
Justice was charged with first-degree kidnapping (Class A felony) and grooming (Class D felony) in Wapello County. Justice also faces a second-degree sexual abuse charge (Class B felony) in Jefferson County.
Justice was extradited to Iowa on September 16th, 2026, and is currently housed in the Wapello County Jail where he is being held without bond.
Justice has a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 25th in the Wapello County Courthouse and has been ordered not to have any contact with the victim.
