The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has reached out to U.S. Marshals Service and the Fugitive Task Force to help find Paul Emmanual Tate Jr.

Tate did not appear for his trial in Beaufort County Superior Court last week and is now wanted by law enforcement. In May of 2014, Tate, 29, of Clark Road in Bath, was charged with six counts of statutory rape and one count of a statutory sex offense.

In the days and weeks preceding his trial, Tate was participating in plea negotiations between the prosecution and defense, according to officials.

“He was showing up for court and for his hearings,” said Chief Deputy Charlie Rose.

The prosecution and Tate’s defense attorney could not reach an agreement on a plea deal, so the case moved ahead to trial last week.

According to Lt. Wesley Waters, Tate did not appear in the court the morning he was scheduled, but after a phone call from his attorney, he did make an appearance.

“He came after lunch to talk to his attorney,” Waters said.

When he left the courthouse, however, he did not return.

Rose said that because of Tate’s disappearance, when he is arrested, he will be recharged with the offenses. While Tate was given a $100,000 bond previously, Rose said bond was unlikely to happen again.

“Once we get him, we’ll probably have him in custody until he goes to court,” Rose said.

Law enforcement is seeking information about Tate’s whereabouts, both here and outside of the vicinity.

“He could potentially be local, but he could be gone as well,” Waters said.

Anyone with information about Tate is asked to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 252-946-0101 or Beaufort County Crime Stoppers by phone, text or through their website. Call 252-974-6400; text a tip anonymously by dialing 274637 on a cell phone and in the body of the message, type BCSO131 and the tip; or submit a tip through the Crime Stoppers website, www.beaufortcountycrimestoppers.com, by following the “Tip Line” link and filling out an online form. Calls, texts and emails are anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest in this case. Tipsters do not have to give their name to receive a reward.