Wednesday, March 27, 2024

62-year-old man found guilty of taking indecent liberties with minor

NEW HANOVER COUNTY – Richard Craig Wilkinson, 62, has been charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, as well as child solicitation via computer. He was found guilty by a New Hanover County jury within the NHC Superior Court following a four-day trial. 

The court was presented with evidence from August 2019 where the FBI received information regarding Wilkinson’s inappropriate engagement with a 15-year-old child. A thorough investigation proved Wilkinson met the child online. According to a release from DA Ben David’s office, he began sexually grooming her, and gave her gifts, money, alcohol, and drug paraphernalia.

The defendant was sentenced to 19-42 months in the NC Department of Adult Correction by the Honorable Josh Willey, NHC’s Superior Court Judge. Following Wilkinson’s release, he will then be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years.


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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