A 43-year-old Richlands man is facing a felony charge after investigators say he exposed himself in public in the presence of a child. Christopher Roulo was arrested by the Onslow County Sheriff's Office on Sunday and was taken to jail on a $10,000 secured bond.
According to charging documents cited by WCTI, the alleged incident happened along the shoulder of Andermora Road on September 18, where Roulo is accused of exposing himself in front of a 6-year-old child and two adults.
Roulo is charged with felony indecent exposure in the presence of a minor, two counts of misdemeanor indecent exposure, and resisting a public officer. The charging documents allege that Roulo pulled away from a sheriff's lieutenant and ran while deputies were investigating the call, per the station's report.
How the Charges Escalated to a Felony
Under North Carolina General Statute § 14-190.9(a1), an adult who willfully exposes their private parts in public in the presence of a minor for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification commits a Class H felony, according to FindLaw. Without a child present, the same conduct toward adults is only a Class 2 misdemeanor under the same statute, as explained by DeMent Askew. Roulo faces two separate misdemeanor counts alongside the felony count involving the child.
The resisting charge follows allegations that Roulo pulled away from a sheriff's lieutenant and ran while deputies were investigating the call.
Potential Registry Consequences
A conviction on the felony count may require inclusion on North Carolina's sex offender registry, according to DeMent Askew, which can bring long-term public listings along with housing and employment restrictions. It is important to note that these are allegations at this stage, and the case has not been resolved in court.
Where Roulo Is Being Held
Roulo was taken to the Onslow County Jail. The county complex has 528 beds spread across 11 cell blocks and is located on Court Street.
WCTI describes Roulo as a Richlands man. Richlands, a town in Onslow County, has an estimated 2026 population of around 2,500 residents, per World Population Review.
The arresting agency is the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.
Hoodline previously reported on a 22-year-old held without bond on child exploitation counts in Jacksonville.
