BRUNSWICK COUNTY — Last week, a sex offender was convicted and sentenced to 15 to 23 years in prison for felony offenses with a child.
From Shallotte, Alejandro Herrera-Mejia pled guilty on Sept. 3 to three counts of statutory rape of a child and three counts of statutory sex offense with a child, under the age of 15. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office was looking for the 43-year-old last fall as the case was underway; the made an arrest in January 2025 and brought charges against Herrera-Mejia, according to court documents.
The Brunswick County’s Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation based on a disclosure from the minor child. It was led by Det. Taylor Shepard and the minor was forensically interviewed and medically evaluated at the Carousel Center, the Child Advocacy Center for Brunswick County.
Documents reveal Herrera-Mejia knew the minor, who endured years of “grooming behaviors,” such as “giving her rides, providing alcohol and marijuana.” The incidents took place according to the arrest warrants in February 2020 through 2021, when the victim was 12 and 13.
It also discloses the victim has “lasting impacts from the abuse,” with Herrera-Mejia taking advantage of his position of trust. He also must comply with a permanent no-contact order with the victim.
Assistant District Attorney Michele Morton tried the case.
“Children are among the most vulnerable in our community. It is imperative that we vigorously prosecute those that choose to harm them,” she said in a release. “We hope this resolution continues to send a message that our office stands committed to working with our partners to seek active sentences against child sexual predators not only to seek justice but to protect our community.”
Herrera-Mejia will be required to register as a sex offender, as determined by Special Superior Court Judge Quinton McGee, who also sentenced him five years supervised probation upon his prison release.
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