Karl Brian Mason, 41, is no longer wanted for just questioning in connection with a sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl last week. He’s now a wanted suspect, charged with first-degree rape of the 8-year-old girl.

Sgt. Kendal Thomas, with the Selma Police Department, said Monday, based on the preliminary medical reports and examinations, testimony from the child’s mother as well as other evidence, the department and the district attorney’s office made the decision to issue the arrest warrant.

Now, Thomas said, all they have to do is find him.

“We have issued the arrest report and have contacted departments and agencies around the area about Mr. Mason,” Thomas said. “At this point, our goal is to bring him into custody.”

According to Thomas, Mason was last seen in the 1200 block of 5th Avenue sometime Wednesday, but has “not been seen since.” Thomas said it is believed Thomas is traveling with his son, who is described to be in his mid-20s.

Thomas said the rape took place in a home on the 1200 block of 5th Avenue.

The victim was transported to Vaughan Regional Medical Center and Selma Pediatrics, where she was examined.

“The early indication from those examinations is that the victim was in fact sexually assaulted,” Thomas said in an interview with the Times-Journal last week.

Mason, who has been living in Selma with his girlfriend for the past “four or five years,” does have a criminal background, but Thomas said nothing on his record involved sexual crimes.

The 8-year-old victim is the daughter of his girlfriend. The couple has a one-year-old child together.

Mason is listed as being from Quincy, Fla., and is described as being six feet tall and weighing between 150 and 180 pounds.

Anyone with information on Mason’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Selma Police Department at (334) 874-6611 or Crimestoppers at 7-866-44-CRIME (442-7463).