The Warren County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Vicksburg Police Department, early Friday morning arrested a 17-year-old Vicksburg resident wanted for having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old child.

“We made an arrest on another sexual battery case,” Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said, adding, “We’re really trying to crack down on these.”

Pace said 17-year-old Robert Early was taken into custody just before 2 a.m. at a residence on Locust Street in Vicksburg after law enforcement received a tip about the suspect’s whereabouts through Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers.

“The investigation began after the sheriff’s office got information on January 4, through Lt. Stacy Rollison, the lead investigator,” Pace said. “A warrant was issued and we got the tip and made the arrest.”

Pace said Early was on probation for another offense in which he was tried as an adult and was held without bond after his initial appearance Friday in front of Warren County Judge Marcie Southerland.

“As with any sex-related crime, we’re limited as to what details we can release,” Pace said.  “But this did involve sex with a 12-year-old child.”

Early is charged with statutory rape of a child under 14, and Pace said the investigation remains open and ongoing.