Two men are facing charges of indecent liberties in separate cases investigated by local law enforcement in conjunction with the Sampson County Department of Social Services.

Primitvivo Arias Jr., 30, of 563 Rosin Hill Road, Newton Grove, has been charged with assault on a female, assault by strangulation and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. He was taken into custody at Eddins Mobile Home Park, Lot A5, Newton Grove, on Friday.

No bond was set in the case.

Arias was entered wanted by the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office in 2016 in an investigation launched by investigators after receiving a complaint from the Department of Social Services. Details released on the investigation were limited due to the sensitive nature of the case.

“During the investigation, enough probable cause was obtained to issue warrants in the case. Investigators were unable to locate the suspect at the time and as a result he was entered wanted,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Marcus Smith, who said officers were able to find the suspect and serve the outstanding warrants on him last week. “The victim in question is a female, but the age and other information is being withheld at this time.”

In a separate case, the Clinton Police Department’s Neighborhood Improvement Team (NIT) arrested a Clinton man on felony charges.

Jimmy McCoy Rouse Sr., 68, of 106 Royal Lane, Clinton, was charged with indecent liberties with a child and sexual battery. His bond set at $25,000 secured.

The alleged incident involved a relative of Rouse’s, said Clinton Police Chief Donald Edwards. The chief noted that the mother of the victim reported it to police on June 30.

“NIT started the investigation that same day,” Edwards said. Warrants were issued last week and Rouse was subsequently arrested at his Royal Lane residence. He was given $25,000 secured bond for the charges.

“This is the type of case that is handled jointly through the Sampson County Child Advocacy Center,” Edwards noted.

The child advocacy center is another arm of DSS. There, young victims are interviewed once, and various agencies gather information at the same time, in an effort to limit the stress on children and their families.

A multi-disciplinary team, consisting of members from law enforcement, Social Services, prosecution, medical providers, Guardian ad Litem, mental health professionals and school officials, work together on the case. The team uses its resources to review all cases and provide assistance, advocacy and protection to victims, with the Child Advocacy Center and its director Shannon Blanchard playing a key role in that effort.

Arias
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Arias.jpgArias

Rouse
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_Rouse.jpgRouse

By Chris Berendt

[email protected]

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