Mayodan police search for attempted rape suspect-**Mug Shot with story

By Steve Lawson

Published: June 11, 2008

Mayodan police are asking for help in finding a local man wanted in the attempted statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl.
The man, Jason Lee Tuggle, 26, of 309 N. 7th Ave. in Mayodan, cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet Monday evening and disappeared, police said. Chief Jim Bullins said Tuggle was wearing the bracelet as a condition of his pretrial release on assault charges.
Bullins said the father of a 14-year-old girl reported the incident Monday afternoon.
“The first thing we did was interview the victim,” Bullins said. “We also located and talked to a couple witnesses.”
Bullins said detective Tony Ashburn contacted the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday and obtained a warrant for Tuggle’s arrest on a charge of attempted statutory rape.
“When we went to his home to pick him up, we found he was gone,” Bullins said.
Bullins said Tuggle waited until his mother went to bed, removed the monitoring bracelet and left the house. Tuggle did not have a car and apparently walked or hitched a ride.
Mayodan police received a tip Wednesday morning that Tuggle had been spotted in Randleman, and Bullins said his department intends to follow every lead.
“Based on the seriousness of this crime and what he was already under arrest for, Tuggle has shown a tendency toward violence,” Bullins said. “That makes it that much more important that we locate him as soon as possible.”
Tuggle is described as a white man, 6 feet tall and about 220 pounds. He has medium-length black hair, brown eyes and a goatee, but it is possible he could now be clean-shaven.
Tuggle has several tattoos, the most prominent of which are the name Vera on the right side of his neck and a clown tattoo on his right arm.
Bullins said Tuggle’s record included several felony convictions, and he is a registered sex offender. Tuggle served two years in prison after being convicted of taking indecent liberties with a minor in Rockingham County in 2004. He registered as a sex offender in 2007.
Bullins indicated Sunday’s incident remained under investigation.
Anyone with information concerning Tuggle’s location is asked to call Mayodan police at 548-6038, or Crimestoppers of Rockingham County at 349-9683.

News Editor Steve Lawson can be reached at or at 548-6047.