Sex crimes charges filed against Durham man

A 25-year-old man from Durham, North Carolina, has been charged with multiple sex crime offenses after police say he set up a meeting on an Internet dating site. The boy he was allegedly meeting was only 15 years old.

While investigators won’t discuss the case details, the man has been charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, providing beer or wine to a juvenile, statutory rape/sex offense with someone under 16, kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He is currently being held on $1 million bail.

The name of the Internet dating site was not released, nor was the date when the alleged meeting took place. The man is also facing a Wake County indictment for DWI. He was arrested on March 15 for that offense.

While it can be difficult to hear or read about crimes involving children, it is important to remember that each person charged with a crime is innocent until — and only if — he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. With sex offenses, though, it’s common for the media to assume someone is guilty, which can cause serious harm to his or her reputation, job prospects and family relationships.

An experienced criminal defense attorney can help those charged with sex crimes understand the possible defense options for their case. While each case is different, a strong defense may help a judge or jury see that a defendant is not guilty. To learn more about how to develop such a defense, speak with your defense attorney.

Source: The News & Observer, “Durham man accused of using dating site to meet boy, 15,” Nov. 12, 2015