A 23-year-old Jacksonville man is being held without bond at the Onslow County Jail after deputies arrested him on charges of second-degree forcible rape, statutory rape and indecent liberties with a child, stemming from two separate incidents on May 19, 2024, and February 20, 2025, about nine months apart. Shaun Michael Anthony Frank was taken into custody by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office on Sunday, according to online charging documents.
The most serious charge, second-degree forcible rape of a physically helpless person, is tied to an incident that allegedly occurred on February 20, 2025, according to a charging document cited by WCTI. A separate warrant accuses Frank of statutory rape of a child age 15 or younger and indecent liberties with a child, both allegedly connected to an incident on May 19, 2024, per the same charging documents. Frank remains held without bond at the Onslow County Jail as the case moves forward.
What the Charges Carry Under North Carolina Law
Second-degree forcible rape is a Class C felony in North Carolina, carrying a potential sentence of 44 to 182 months of active imprisonment when it involves sexual intercourse with a physically helpless person, according to Floyd Law Offices PLLC. Frank also faces charges of statutory rape of a child age 15 or younger and indecent liberties with a child.
A conviction on the forcible rape charge would trigger mandatory placement on North Carolina's Sex Offender Registry. Frank remains held without bond as the case moves forward.
Who Prosecutes the Case, and Where Frank Is Held
Felony prosecutions in Onslow County fall under Prosecutorial District 5, led by elected District Attorney Ernie Lee, whose office also handles criminal cases in Duplin, Jones and Sampson counties, according to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. Investigations and victim support in child sex offense cases in the county typically run through One Place and its Child Advocacy Center in Jacksonville, which brings together forensic interviews, medical exams and victim advocacy under one roof, per One Place Onslow County.
Frank is being held at the Onslow County Jail.
The case adds to a string of recent felony arrests involving Jacksonville men on child-related charges; earlier this month, a 22-year-old was jailed on exploitation counts, and a 45-year-old Jacksonville man was held without bond in late August on 16 similar counts. No court dates for Frank's case have been announced, and all charges remain allegations that have not been proven in court.
