Man, accused of raping 2 children, arrested

BERILN TWP. — Two weeks after indicting him, Erie County detectives caught a registered sex offender on the run who's accused of sexually assaulting a pair of young children, ages 7 and 9.Christopher B. Smith Jr., 29, faces two counts of rape, both considered first-degree felonies.Authorities on Friday learned Smith was hiding in a home on Barrows Road in Berlin Township. They made the arrest at about 6:30 p.m. and took him into custody. As of late Friday, he remains locked up in the Erie County jail on $80,000 bond.Erie County sheriff's personnel classify Smith as a "dangerous criminal.""He was charged with some very serious offenses," Erie County Chief Deputy Jared Oliver said.He doesn't have a known address but, at one point in the recent past, he was living within the 1400 block of Hollyrood Road in Sandusky.Deputies also made two additional arrests in connection with this incident: Sandusky residents Daniel Brennan, 28, and Jasmine Brennan, 33, both of McKelvey Street, each received one count of obstruction, considered a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly helping Smith avoid apprehension.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Smith, Christopher