Investigators arrested Mark A. Ballinas, 25, of Clayton, North Carolina for rape, a Level 3 felony, and sexual misconduct with a minor, a level 5 felony, on Friday, Oct. 18. He was taken to the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown for processing and remains there today.
According to a news release from Seymour Lt. C.J. Foster, after Ballinas was arrested, investigators, with the assistance of patrol officers, learned that he was attempting to obstruct the investigation. Ballinas, howeverm wasn’t the only one trying to throw off the investigation, Foster said.
With the assistance of patrol officers on Thursday, Oct. 24, Foster said the vehicle involved in the original incident occurred in was located along with Ballinas’s younger brother, Joustin David Ballinas-Ramirez, 19, of Seymour.
Investigators obtained a Jackson Superior Court 1 search warrant to search the vehicle for evidence related to the original investigation.
Evidence potentially related to the investigation also was collected, Foster said.
Investigators attempted to interview Ballinas-Ramirez, but Foster reported he was uncooperative.
He was later arrested for two counts of obstruction, both Level 6 felonies, at 6:49 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 and taken to the Jackson County Jail.
Ballinas was also arrested for one count of obstruction, a Level 6 felony, while still incarcerated from his previous arrest.