A 69-year-old Burlington man was arrested Thursday in Randolph County on a felony charge of taking indecent liberties with a child, according to court records. The man, identified in filings as Robert Clark Gebhardt, was taken into custody and is being held at the Randolph County Detention Center while officials schedule a bond hearing.
Arrest and charges
Gebhardt was arrested Thursday by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and booked on the felony indecent liberties charge, according to reporting from the Burlington Times-News. Court records reviewed by the paper list the charge as taking indecent liberties with a child and indicate he remains in custody while magistrates arrange a hearing to determine bond.
Past convictions
State corrections records show Gebhardt’s name has appeared on court dockets for decades. Documents from the N.C. Department of Adult Correction, cited in the current court filings, list a 1986 felony conviction for indecent liberties with a child, for which he served six months. They also show a 1994 misdemeanor conviction for assault on a child that resulted in a probation sentence.
What we know so far
Authorities have not released any public information about the alleged conduct in the new case, and investigators are keeping details under wraps for now, according to the Burlington Times-News. Prosecutors and court officials are expected to map out the next steps at Gebhardt’s initial appearance and any follow up hearings in Randolph County District Court.
Legal implications
Under North Carolina law, “taking indecent liberties with children” is defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-202.1 as a Class F felony. A conviction can bring prison time and may trigger a requirement to register as a sex offender under Article 27A of Chapter 14.
