Post by WaTcHeR on Oct 16, 2006 11:12:55 GMT -5
Officer Luther Stidham
10.16.2006 - BOILING SPRING LAKES -- In a shocking arrest out of Boiling Spring Lakes a police officer is behind bars, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl.
Officer Luke Stidham with the Boiling Spring Lakes Police Department was arrested early Thursday morning.
The Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and Stidham's coworkers assisted the SBI with the arrest. Officer Stidham is in the Brunswick County jail charged with statutory rape and indecent liberties with a child.
According to court papers Stidham started having a relationship with the girl on the popular web site MySpace.
The SBI began searching Stidham's home Wednesday looking for computer records containing evidence of the 36-year-old's relationship with the girl.
According to the search warrant messages between the victim and the officer were retrieved stating Stidham found out the girl was 14 and not 16 as he originally thought. Also that the girl was worried she might be pregnant with Stidham's child.
The Boiling Spring Lakes Police Department say Officer Stidham's behavior is not reflection on the rest of the officers.
Officer Stidham is on leave during the investigation.
Officer Stidham made his first court appearance in Brunswick County courts Thursday morning. The judge lowered his bond from $300,000 to $150,000.
If Stidham can post bond he will be under electronic monitoring and house arrest.
Officer Stidham is married and has three children, all between the ages of 10 and 16.
www.wwaytv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=5409809