An Autryville man has been charged with multiple felonies, including rape and incest, following a Sampson County Sheriff’s investigation launched last week. It is the second time in three days a registered sex offender in Sampson has been charged in a new sex-related case.

James Earl Norton, 49, of 51 Peace Lily Lane, Autryville, was charged Wednesday with statutory rape/sex offense on a defendant 6 years of age or older, as well as second degree rape and felony incest. His bond was set at $250,000 secured and, as of Thursday, he was still in jail.

Norton was taken into custody Wednesday at 1830 Hayes Mill Road, Godwin, reports state.

According to Lt. Marcus Smith, the alleged actions were reported on June 14, and the investigation began the same day. The arrest came exactly a week later.

“The victim reported to authorities that inappropriate sexual contact was made by the suspect. The victim was 15 years of age at the time of the incident,” Smith said. “We are unable to release the date of offense at this time due to circumstances surrounding the case that can’t be disclosed.”

The lieutenant cited the “sensitive nature of the case,” noting that authorities could not release any further information at this time.

Norton is a registered sex offender and is on the N.C. Sex Offender Registry, available through the N.C. Department of Public Safety (NCDPS). The database has his registeration labeled as “aggravated” and notes it is a “lifetime” registration.

Norton was previously convicted in Sampson of first degree kidnapping, second degree rape, second degree kidnapping, felony breaking and entering and larceny, according to court records accessed through NCDPS. The convictions stemmed from offenses that occurred in September 2002, when Norton was 34 years old. The victim was listed as “18 and older,” in the N.C. Sex Offender Registry information.

He was convicted in March 2003, serving about four and a half years before being released in August 2007. His parole expired in 2012. In November 2009 he was convicted of mutiple counts of larceny and given a suspended sentence.

Newton has a court date of June 30 to face the new charges.

In a separate case, a Roseboro man was arrested on Monday on two counts of indecent liberties with a child and sexual battery, stemming from alleged “inappropriate contact” with a teenage girl. Despite also being on the N.C. Sex Offender Registry, he was given a $10,000 unsecured bond.

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By Chris Berendt

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Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.