An 18-year-old is accused of having a relationship with a 13-year-old girl in Wayne County.
Deputies charged John Tripp with statutory rape and statutory sexual offense after they received a report the two were involved in a sexual relationship.
Tripp, who deputies say became an acquaintance with the girl through another friend, is being held on a $50,000 bond. Deputies say they brought the charges because of the age difference between the victim and the suspect.
Statutory rape indicates that the case involves an adult who is charged with raping a person 13, 14, or 15 years old, and that the defendant is at least six years older. The NC general statute is G.S. 14 27.7A(a).