Back on Jan. 7 of this year, Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart originally reported that the Madison County Sheriff’s Office had received a warrant for the arrest of Kevin Cornelius Gardner, 52, of Madison, for his crimes of Sexual Battery of a person in Familial or Custodial Authority and Impregnation of a Minor.
On Dec. 3 of 2015, Gardner was adjudicated guilty for said charges and sentenced to 10 years in the Florida Department of Corrections followed by 15 years of Sex Offender Probation.
After being adjudicated and sentenced to the Florida Department of Corrections, the Third Judicial Court in and for Madison County granted a brief furlough for Gardner which allowed him not to be taken into immediate custody but rather, required him to voluntarily report to the Madison County Jail no later than 9 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2016. However, when Jan. 5 came, Gardner failed to report and an amended warrant for Gardner was obtained to include the additional charge of absconding.
Gardner’s previous incarcerations revealed that he had addresses in the areas of Orange Park, Fl. and St. Augustine, Fl.
The U.S. Marshall’s Office Fugitive Task Force considered Gardner to be a fugitive from the law and undertook an investigation into his whereabouts.
After nearly five months of eluding authorities, on Wednesday, May 11, at approximately 5 p.m., Gardner was located in Green Cove Springs, Fl. and was successfully taken into custody without incident by the U.S. Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force.
Sheriff Stewart commends the U.S. Marshall’s Office Fugitive Task Force for their efforts in capturing this fugitive. Gardner will remain in custody until being delivered to the Florida Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.