An East Marlborough man who was facing charges of distributing child pornography and fled the area in October has been arrested in South Carolina.

A press release from Pennsylvania State Police Avondale on Tuesday afternoon said that Jeffrey Mathew Ball, 45, who formerly lived at 205 E. Doe Run Road in East Marlborough Township, was the target of an investigation dating back to March 2, when detectives from Delaware County discovered that Ball had been sharing images of child pornography over the internet from his home.

In September, Pennsylvania State Police officers searched Ball's home, seizing several computers. Images and videos of child pornography were found. On Oct. 2, an arrest warrant was issued for Ball, citing 503 felony counts, including dissemination of child pornography. Ball is not accused of producing the images himself.

After the search of his home, however, Ball fled the area, abandoning his home, wife and children. He has been at large until last week. An anonymous phone tip to Pennsylvania State Police said that Ball had been renting a bedroom from a woman in Pendleton, S.C. After a four-day surveillance mission, members of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division took Ball into custody on the afternoon of Jan. 16.

He is being held at the Anderson Detention Center, awaiting extradition to Chester County to face charges.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, e-mail [email protected].