A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with sexual offenses has been arrested in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, after Gastonia police tracked him down with help from a federal fugitive task force. Virgil Crump was taken into custody on Thursday, according to authorities.
Gastonia police arrested the man wanted in connection to sexual offenses with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, according to Queen City News. The outlet reports that officers, working with the task force, located and arrested Crump in Kings Mountain.
What the Charge Means Under North Carolina Law
The arrest stems from an allegation tied to first-degree statutory sexual offense, a charge defined under state law. Per the North Carolina General Assembly, a person is guilty of first-degree statutory sexual offense when they engage in a sexual act with a child under 13 years old, provided the defendant is at least 12 years old and at least four years older than the alleged victim.
That statute sets a specific legal threshold for the offense Crump is alleged to have been involved in, though further case-specific details — including the circumstances that led to the charge — have not been made available. The report from the Gaston County-based outlet did not include additional specifics about the underlying allegations.
Task Force Involvement in the Arrest
The involvement of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force points to coordinated law enforcement efforts between local and federal authorities to locate Crump. Task forces of this kind typically work alongside local police departments to track down individuals wanted on outstanding charges, and in this case the collaboration led to Crump's arrest in Kings Mountain rather than in Gastonia itself, where the case originated.
No additional information about Crump's court proceedings, bond status, or further charges has been confirmed at this time. Hoodline will update this story as more verified details become available.
