Gaston County rapist found hiding in attic

A man who left the Gaston County Courthouse during his trial on rape charges Monday and never returned was found Saturday hiding in his girlfriend’s attic, interim Belmont police Chief Basil Marett said.

Gary Franklin Simmons, 43, of Belmont, left during a lunch break Monday. 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 of a 14-year-old girl.

Gaston County sheriff’s investigators and Belmont police tracked Simmons to his girlfriend’s home on Cherry Street in Belmont, Marett said.

Simmons’ girlfriend, Robin Lackey, was charged with harboring a fugitive.

Police had believed Simmons might still be in Gaston County, specifically Belmont or Mount Holly,

Police also had issued alerts that he might have family in Guilford and Surry counties, and in Cherokee and Horry counties in South Carolina, police said.

When he disappeared, Simmons was wearing a gray, button-down, long-sleeve dress shirt, long-sleeve white undershirt, blue tie, light-blue jeans and medium-colored brown boots. Police released that information to the public in hopes someone spotted him.

Simmons was considered a threat, and anyone having contact with him was urged to use caution, Belmont police said.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Gaston County rapist found hiding in attic."