Three decades later, a fugitive faces justice

More than three decades after he was charged with sexual assault of a child, Samuel Huston Cannon is back home.

Cannon was transported by U.S. Marshals Sept. 7 from Albany Georgia to the county jail, where he was held without bond on two counts of sexual assault to a victim under 12 years old.

Cannon, 36 at the time, was accused by the victim’s mother of committing sexual battery on two occasions in December 1990, while he living in Eastpoint. A later interview by child protection team investigators in Bay County had concluded that they “believe that the sexual batteries did happen,” specifically that Cannon had inserted his fingers into the individual’s private parts.

But Cannon has been on the run ever since, and county investigators this year issued a warrant for his arrest. He was transferred to the Franklin County Jail after serving his time in another state for a different crime.

The sheriff’s office said some of Cannon’s major prior arrests include but are not limited to rape, two counts of trafficking children, and sexual assault.