A Hillsborough man is in the Orange County detention center after deputies served nine felony warrants tied to alleged sexual offenses, according to the sheriff's office.
Authorities identified the suspect as 39-year-old Rudy Free of Hillsborough and said he is facing nine counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, along with three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. A magistrate ordered Free held in the county detention center without bond on the felony warrants and set a $20,000 secured bond on the misdemeanor charges. A judge is expected to review those bond conditions at his first appearance, scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
According to a post from the Orange County Sheriff's Office - North Carolina, Sgt. K. Goodwin arrested Free on April 6. Investigators say the case opened after a person disclosed the alleged incidents to a third party, who then brought the information forward. The sheriff's office has not released any details about where the alleged offenses occurred and is withholding all identifying information about the alleged victims.
What the charges mean
Under North Carolina law, second-degree forcible sexual offense covers sexual acts committed "by force and against the will" of another person or with someone who is mentally incapacitated. The offense is classified as a Class C felony under North Carolina General Statute 14-27.27, as outlined by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Sentencing for Class C felonies depends on a defendant's prior record and the state's structured-sentencing grid. According to legal resources, prison terms for Class C offenses generally range from roughly 44 to 182 months.
Investigation and next steps
In its post, the Orange County Sheriff's Office - North Carolina said the magistrate ordered Free held without bond on the felony warrants and set a secured $20,000 bond on the misdemeanor counts, with a judge slated to review bond at the 2:00 p.m. first appearance.
The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active. The Orange County District Attorney's Office will decide whether to pursue formal charges beyond the existing warrants. As of the time of the sheriff's post, officials said there were no additional court filings or public records available beyond the warrants themselves.
Legal next steps
If prosecutors move forward with formal charges, the case will proceed through Orange County's court system. Any sentence would depend on the felony classification, the structured-sentencing rules and any prior convictions on Free's record.
Free is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in a court of law and is entitled to legal counsel throughout the process. The sheriff's office has asked anyone with information relevant to the case to contact investigators as they continue their probe.
