Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the charges against Andrew Penvose were dismissed by a grand jury in April 2026.
Authorities arrested a Raleigh man on March 5 in connection with a historical sex-assault investigation involving alleged incidents from 2011 and 2014. Officials said 35-year-old Andrew Penvose was facing one count of felony statutory rape, a sex offense that under state law involves an adult defendant who is at least six years older than a minor. He was taken into custody and booked into the Wake County Detention Center.
According to ABC11, the Wake County Sheriff's Office received a report on Feb. 20 alleging a sexual assault against a juvenile that occurred in 2011 and 2014. After investigating that report, deputies charged Penvose. The Sheriff's Office did not release further information about the allegations when the booking details were posted.
However, court records show that on April 7, 2026, a Wake County grand jury returned a "no true bill" on the charges, meaning the grand jury found insufficient evidence to proceed with formal prosecution. The case was subsequently dismissed.
What the charge means under state law
North Carolina law treats sexual conduct with young teens as a high-level felony when there is a significant age gap. If a defendant is at least six years older than someone who is 15 or younger, the conduct can be charged as a Class B1 felony. The statute, as laid out by the North Carolina General Assembly, spells out those age thresholds and the categories of statutory rape.
Convictions for felony sexual offenses carry long-term consequences, including mandatory registration and other collateral penalties, as described by the UNC School of Government. North Carolina courts have also recognized that felony prosecutions generally are not limited by a statute of limitations, which is why older allegations like these can still move forward in the legal system.
Grand jury process and outcome
After the arrest, prosecutors presented the case to a Wake County grand jury for review. In North Carolina's criminal justice system, grand juries determine whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge someone with a felony. The grand jury process involves reviewing evidence presented by prosecutors to determine if probable cause exists.
On April 7, 2026, the grand jury returned a "no true bill," which means they found insufficient evidence to support the charges. This outcome effectively dismissed the case against Penvose.
