A North Carolina man is facing serious criminal allegations after he allegedly hid in a teenager’s closet for several days. The man, age 27, was accused of sex crimes including statutory rape and statutory sex offenses after apparently having intercourse with the 14-year-old Iredell County girl. Authorities report that the man had been invited inside the home, and he stayed there for five days. He could face life in prison without parole if convicted of the sex crimes.
Officials say that the teen had met the man on a social media site. The pair chatted for several weeks, and then they agreed to meet in a forested area near the girl’s home. The man reportedly stayed in the girl’s room during the daytime, and he would come out in the evenings. That defendant is accused of having sex with the teen on numerous occasions between April 27 and May 2.
Authorities say that the man fled the scene after the teen’s mother discovered him when she went to put some items in the closet. The defendant reportedly took off running, but he dropped both his wallet and cellphone as he fled. The teen also identified the defendant, according to news reports. Officers tracked the man through the woods behind the teen’s home, where they found his personal belongings.
The defendant in this case does have a modest criminal history, with a handful of arrests in his past. It is not clear whether any of those will have a bearing on this particular case. This defendant eventually turned himself in after officers continued to search for him. This man and others accused of sex crimes may benefit from the assistance of a North Carolina criminal defense attorney, who can help them learn more about their legal rights and options.
Source: WCNC, “Man accused of hiding in 14-year-old’s closet in custody” Tony Burbeck, May. 19, 2014
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