Sunday, February 9, 2025

Former Carolina Beach reserve officer faces additional sex offense charges

Joseph Adam Silva
Joseph Adam Silva

A former Carolina Beach reserve officer faces additional felony charges following his arrest last week on a sex offense charge.

Joseph Adam Silva, 29, of Carolina Beach, was arrested Thursday evening in the 500 block of Raleigh Avenue on additional sex offense and officer impersonation charges, according to New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jerry Brewer. Silva was originally charged with second-degree sex offense following his arrest on March 17. He was released from jail under a $50,000 secured bond.

“Sheriff’s Office Detectives continued their investigation into Silva, which has led to his arrest [Thursday] for multiple felony sex offenses,” Brewer said.

Silva has been charged with two counts of sexual servitude of an adult victim, second-degree forced sex offense, three counts of second-degree burglary, one count of embezzlement and four counts of misdemeanor impersonating a law enforcement officer.

According to arrest warrants, Silva is charged in connection with an incident on Jan. 12, in which he allegedly impersonated an undercover officer conducting a prostitution sting and held a female victim in sexual servitude.

Warrants also state he is charged with breaking into a neighbor’s home on Raleigh Avenue in Carolina Beach on three separate occasions between March 9 and 15. Those same warrants state he allegedly impersonated a law enforcement officer conducting a prostitution sting on three other victims during that time period, while on one occasion on March 15, held one of the female victims in sexual servitude.

He is also charged with embezzlement for an incident on March 16. Warrants state Silva allegedly neglected to deliver a Motorola radio and charger valued at $4,000 to the Town of Carolina Beach, according to an arrest warrant.

According to records with the Town of Carolina Beach, Silva was hired as a reserve officer with the Carolina Beach Police Department on March 30, 2015. His employment with the town ended on Sept. 23, 2015.

Reserve officers are individuals who have their Basic Law Enforcement Training certification, or are getting the certification, according to Carolina Beach Town Manager Michael Cramer.  They are part-time employees who are only used during special events, he added.

Silva is being held at the New Hanover County Jail under a $2.5 million secured bond.

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