A 24-year-old Mount Holly man who once worked for the Gaston County YMCA is facing kidnapping and child sex charges after a grand jury indictment in August, and investigators now say they are trying to determine whether there could be other victims connected to him. Akinyele Lumumba Crawford remains held without bond in the Gaston County Jail as the case moves toward another court date.
According to myfox8.com, Crawford was indicted on two counts each of statutory rape of a child, statutory sex offense with a child, and indecent liberties with a child, along with first-degree kidnapping. Court documents cited by the station say the victim was 15 years old or younger and that the alleged offenses occurred in May.
Investigators say Crawford developed a relationship with a minor during his time working at the YMCA, though officials say the alleged incident itself happened at a location other than the YMCA. Operators of the McGill YMCA in Belmont, North Carolina, notified members that Crawford no longer works there, according to WSOC TV.
Kidnapping Charge Tied to Moving the Teen
Gastonia Police have said none of the alleged offenses were committed at the Gaston County Family YMCA, per the station's report. The kidnapping charge, meanwhile, stems from Crawford allegedly moving the teenager from one location to another without the consent of the victim's parents or guardian, according to a report by Yahoo News.
That same account says investigators allege Crawford engaged in illegal sex acts with the victim in late May, and that the grand jury indictments followed in August. Under North Carolina law, taking indecent liberties with children is classified as a Class F felony, according to North Carolina General Assembly statute G.S. 14-202.1.
Police Checking for Additional Victims
Police are investigating whether there could be other victims connected to Crawford given his former position at the YMCA. Law enforcement is encouraging anyone who had concerning or inappropriate interactions with him to come forward, per WSOC TV's reporting.
The reports differ on exactly when Crawford is due back in court: myfox8.com's report says he is due back in early November, while the separate Yahoo News account says he is scheduled to appear next week. Neither the outcome of the case nor any response from Crawford or his attorney was available in the available reporting.
