Deputies search for Gaston man who fled during rape trial

Police are searching for a man who left the Gaston County Courthouse on Monday during his trial on rape charges.

Gary Franklin Simmons, 43, of Belmont, left the courthouse during a lunch break. Lawyers had finished their closing arguments, and the jury had retired to deliberate the case. In Simmons’ absence Tuesday, the jury found him guilty of both counts of statutory rape.

Simmons might still be in Gaston County, specifically Belmont or Mount Holly, police said.

He also might have family in Guilford and Surry counties, and in Cherokee and Horry counties in South Carolina, police said.

Simmons is 5-feet-8 inches and weighs 165 pounds. He has brown eyes, brown hair and a gray-brown goatee. He was wearing a gray button-down long-sleeve dress shirt, long-sleeve white undershirt, blue tie, light-blue jeans and medium-colored brown boots.

Simmons should be considered a threat, and anyone having contact with him should use extreme caution, Belmont police said. Anyone who knows of Simmons’ whereabouts should call 911.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Deputies search for Gaston man who fled during rape trial."