Community Corner
Retired Hope Mills Veteran Arrested for Arranging Sex with Autistic Child
William Jerry Faulkner, Jr. charged Under new "Shaniya Davis" law.
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Detectives have arrested a local businessman on Friday and charged him with attempting to arrange a meeting, for the purpose of having sex with an autistic child.
William Jerry Faulker, Jr., 47, of 3872 Red Oak Drive, Hope Mills was taken in to custody at around 1:30 Friday afternoon. Faulker is the manager of Taylor’s Linden Mini-Storage in the town of Linden and is a retired military intelligence soldier.
An investigation, which began on July 2, 2013 uncovered an illegal posting on Craigslist.com advertising for a single mother, who had a special needs person in their custody, to take the child to him in exchange for compensation. Faulkner intended to engage his victim in inappropriate sexual behavior.
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Unbeknownst to Faulkner, he had been communicating with Sheriff’s Office detectives for the past several weeks, who were conducting an investigation into the matter.
Faulkner is the first in North Carolina to be charged under the new “Shaniya’s Law,” the unlawful sale, surrender, or purchase of a minor. He is also faces charges of indecent liberties with a child.Story tomorrow that goes into specifics on what the new "Shaniya's Law" encompasses.
Faulkner is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under $75,000 bond.
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