Polk County Sheriff’s Office Arrest Suspect for Statutory Rape

The Investigation continues in Polk County regarding the statutory rape of a child and reports say an arrest has been made.

On August 23, 2025 shortly before 10:00pm Polk County Communications E911 received a 911 call and dispatched Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputies to the Polk County Recreation Complex, located at 235 Wolverine Trail, Mill Spring for a Kidnapping/Abduction. Deputies were on scene within five minutes, successfully locating the victim and suspect.

The suspect, Jacob Earl Norwood, a 40-year-old Mill Spring resident was arrested without incident. Norwood was initially charged with Indecent Liberties with a Child and had a bond set at $20,000. Upon further investigation by the Sheriff's Office, Norwood was also charged with a Class B1 Felony of Statutory Rape of a Child under the age of 15 years old.

For safe keeping, Norwood was transferred from Polk County Detention Center to the Henderson County Detention Center. During a hearing held on August 25th a new bond of an additional $1,000,000 was set for the charge of Statutory Rape of a Child under the age of 15 years old.

As the investigation progressed, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has identified another victim, resulting in the addition of nine more felony charges, bringing the total charges to eleven.

These charges include:

• One Count of 14-202.1 Indecent Liberties with a Child under the age of 14 years old

• Three Counts of 14-27.25(A) Statutory Rape of a Child under the age of 15 years old

• Four Counts of 14-27.31(A) Sex Act: Sub Parent/Custodian

• Three Counts of 14-178 (B)(3) Incest

  
  

Jacob Earl Norwood’s bond now totals $3,520,000 and is scheduled for probable cause hearing on Wednesday September 3, 2025 in Polk County District Court.

“I commend the swift actions and diligent efforts of both our patrol and investigative teams in responding to this deeply troubling case,” said Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright. “The matter has been referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, and we remain hopeful that our judicial system will ensure that individuals who commit these heinous acts are held fully accountable under the law.”

This is an ongoing investigation as detectives are working to determine whether there may be additional victims. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information related to the case or suspect to contact them at 828-894-3001.