By Doug Clark

Assistant Editor

A 31-year-old Turkey man was arrested on a legion of sex charges, including rape and indecent liberties with a child, after he turned himself in to authorities Wednesday afternoon.

Woodell McGowan Jr., 31, of 1777 Wilmington Road, Turkey, was charged with two counts of rape and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child . He was placed under a $50,000 secured bond by Magistrate C. Price.

According to officials with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, McGowan had “vaginal sexual intercourse” with a minor on two seperate occasions in December of 2008.

The investigation was transferred to the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office from investigators with the Warsaw Police Department in January after it was discovered that both incidents allegedly took place at McGowan’s residence in Turkey.

According to Det. C. Godwin, the suspect and a 14-year-old female had sexual intercourse somewhere between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 2008. The second incident took place a day after the minor’s birthday on Dec. 23, 2008.

As a result, the female, now 16, became pregnant. Paternity tests, taken from a related Department of Social Services investigation, confirmed that McGowan was, indeed, the father, reports show.

Warrants were issued for McGowan’s arrest on Feb. 15. He turned himself in Wednesday to face the charges.

His first trial date has been set for March 5.

According to the N.C. Department of Corrections, Woodall has a previous conviction of felony conspiracy from a charge dating back to October of 2001.