A Havelock man is behind bars in two counties after investigators say overlapping child sex-crime cases converged on the same suspect.
Authorities have charged 53-year-old Francisco Nava Mendoza in separate investigations in Craven and Carteret counties, where he is accused of raping a child and committing other felony sex offenses. Deputies say Mendoza initially fled as officers were closing in, but he was later captured and is being held without bond.
The Craven County Sheriff's Office says it received a report alleging the rape of a child and that its Criminal Investigations Bureau identified Mendoza as the suspect, according to WCTI. During that investigation, deputies learned the Carteret County Sheriff's Office was already working a separate case with similar allegations involving Mendoza, and the two agencies began coordinating.
Parallel Probes, One Suspect
According to investigators, teams from both sheriff's offices tried to find Mendoza on July 16, but he took off before officers arrived. Two days later, on July 18, he was found in Wayne County and taken into custody with help from the U.S. Marshals Service, as reported by New Bern Live. Officials have not released details on exactly where he was arrested or what evidence has been collected, and both cases remain active.
Charges In Craven And Carteret
In Craven County, Mendoza is charged with rape of a child under 13. In Carteret County, he faces charges that include statutory rape of a child under 15 and indecent liberties with a child, according to WCTI. Court filings were not immediately available online, and prosecutors could seek additional counts as investigators continue to build their cases.
How Serious The Allegations Are
All of the alleged offenses are felonies under North Carolina law and can carry long prison terms if a conviction is secured, as outlined by the North Carolina General Assembly. Sentencing depends on the specific statute and a defendant’s criminal history, but some first-degree child-rape and statutory-rape convictions can result in decades behind bars.
Deputies Still Asking For Tips
Both sheriff's offices are still encouraging anyone with information to reach out to their Criminal Investigations Bureaus, New Bern Live reported. Investigators say they are particularly interested in any video, digital messages, or other potential evidence that community members may have.
Broader Crackdown In Craven County
Local authorities have been leaning hard into Internet Crimes Against Children and other child sex-crime investigations in recent months, with prior reporting showing multiple probes and arrests across the region, according to WITN. Officials say that kind of cross-county coordination seen in Mendoza’s case is likely to continue as these investigations move through the courts.
