Man charged with assault on girl, 11
By Staff Reports
Published in News on November 25, 2008 1:46 PM
James Sanders Tew
A Johnston County man faces felony charges for allegedly taking indecent liberties with an 11-year-old girl, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said.
James Sanders Tew, 46, was jailed under $75,000 bond for on two counts.
An investigation by Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Tammy Odom resulted in allegations of sexual abuse at the girl's Wayne County home between September and October, authorities said.
The 11-year-old and her family knew Tew, but authorities did not say why the girl had been under Tew's care during the time the alleged sexual assaults took place.
Mrs. Odom said that the two counts of indecent liberties might not be the only charges filed against Tew.
Other charges are pending based on what the Wayne County grand jury decides when Tew faces an indictment hearing.
Indecent liberties with a child are defined by state law as "any immoral, improper or indecent liberties with a child under age 16 "for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire."
Generally, "indecent liberties" must be committed in the presence of the child, but actually physical contact is not necessary to constitute a crime, according to law.
The charge is a Class F felony, punishable by more than a year in prison for most first-time offenders.