Hayesville Man Arrested on Multiple Sex Crime Charges

Press Release

On 11/19/25 Joshua Lee Updike, 47 years of age of Hayesville, was arrested by Clay County Investigator Steven Smith on five counts of Second-Degree Forcible Rape and five counts of Second-Degree Forcible Sex Offense.

Updike was a Registered Sex Offender as a result of an unrelated 2015 conviction for sexual related crime(s). Updike’s arrest on 11/19/25 was the result of a historical investigation that began after information was received that he had sexually assaulted a young woman multiple times in Clay County in between 2013 and 2015.

Updike was issued a $750,000 secured bond for his release.