Two men wanted on outstanding felony charges in Macon County were apprehended in Michigan and returned to Macon County Monday, July 9.

Holger Alexander Armstrong, 47, wanted in Macon County on a charge of failure to appear on a sealed indictment charge of aggravated rape, and Kenneth Eugene Barnett, 38, charged with violation of probation and sex offender registration regulation violation, were taken into custody by Macon County Sheriff's Detective Bennie Hudgens.

Hudgens traveled to Michigan based on information received from the FBI and an informant.

“It's my understanding the FBI located Armstrong through his Social Security number,” the detective explained.

“When we received information from an individual that Barnett was also in Michigan, I decided to pick him up while I was there,” Hudgens added.

Armstrong was in custody in Hillsdale, Michigan as a suspect in a rape case there, but Michigan authorities did not have sufficient evidence to charge him, according to Detective Hudgens.

Kenneth Eugene Barnett was reportedly picked up in Pontiac, Michigan, about 150 miles from Hillsdale.

“On the trip back, Barnett asked Armstrong how long he'd been gone. When Armstrong said six years, Barnett asked, ‘how'd they catch me so quick? I've only been gone since December,'” Detective Hudgens said.

Barnett has a long record of arrests in Macon County, dating back to 2002, and has been wanted on current charges for about a year, according to Sheriff's Department records.

The sealed indictment for Armstrong was handed down in connection with a rape alleged to have occurred six years ago, Detective Hudgens reports.

Kenneth Eugene Barnett is being held in the Macon County Jail, awaiting a 7-18-07 General Sessions Court date to face charges of violation of probation and failure to report as a sex offender.

Bond of $50,000 was set for Holger Alexander Armstrong on rape charges, but he was held in the Macon County Jail on charges of failure to appear in court. A General Sessions Court date was scheduled for Armstrong to face failure to appear charges as well as violation of check law charges. Armstrong is scheduled to face rape charges in Criminal Court on 10-1-07.