A Clinton man has received five counts of statutory rape following an eight-month investigation by the Clinton Police Department and the Sampson County Child Advocacy Center.
Devonte Keeshae Williams, 23, of 502 Stetson St., Clinton, was charged with the five felony counts of the offense. He was arrested on Thursday and placed under $500,000 secured bond for the charges against him.
According to Williams’ arrest report, the warrants were issued on Sept. 2. He has a court date of Oct. 21.
“The incident was reported to our agency on Jan. 20, 2016,” Police Capt. Donald Edwards. “The Neighborhood Improvement Team investigated the incident in conjunction with the Child Advocacy Center.”
After an eight-month investigation, warrants were taken out. Williams would have been 22 years of age at the time of the incident. The victim was 15 years old at that time.
In a separate case, investigated by Sampson County Sheriff’s authorities, a Fayetteville man is facing two felony charges of rape and indecent liberties.
Steven Mark Franklin, 43, of 1654 Inveness Drive, Fayetteville, was charged with statutory rape/sex offense on a child over 6 years old and indecent liberties with a child. Franklin turned himself in at the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and was served the warrants for his arrest, issued Friday.
Franklin was placed under $100,000 secured bond. He has a court date of Oct. 21.
“The victim reported to investigators that when she was 14 years of age, the suspect made unwanted sexual contact with her,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Marcus Smith, who released little information on the case, due to its sensitive nature. “The incident was investigated by officers and enough probable cause was established to obtain a warrant for the suspect’s arrest.”
