Gastonia police say a man wanted on a second-degree forcible sex offense charge is now in custody after a coordinated takedown involving multiple agencies and federal partners.
Officers arrested Jarette Mathieu in Gastonia on Tuesday following what they described as a joint effort with federal authorities. In a Facebook post, the Gastonia Police Department said Mathieu had been wanted on a charge of second-degree forcible sexual offense and credited the U.S. Marshals' Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force with helping locate and apprehend him.
Multi-Agency Takedown
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force works with state and local partners to track down and arrest violent fugitives and sexual offenders. These task forces are routinely called in to back up local officers on higher-risk arrests and active manhunts, which is what happened in this case, according to Gastonia police.
What the Charge Means
Under North Carolina law, second-degree forcible sexual offense is defined as engaging in a sexual act by force or with a person who is mentally incapacitated or physically helpless. It is classified as a Class C felony, which puts it among the state’s more serious criminal charges. The statute also instructs courts to consider whether a conviction should require sex offender registration, which can carry long-term consequences, according to the North Carolina General Assembly.
The department’s Facebook post lists the arrest, the date and the assisting agencies but does not include booking information, bond details or any information about the victim. That original post from the Gastonia Police Department remains the key public notice released so far.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gastonia Police Department non-emergency line at 704-866-3300 or check the department’s contact information for any updates. For the legal definition of the charge, readers can refer to the North Carolina General Assembly link above.
