GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Law enforcement officers with the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office received a report about statutory sex offense with a child on June 12.
Detectives investigated the claim, learning that the incident occurred 3-4 years prior to the report when the victim was between the ages of 8-9 years old. The offender named was 27 year old Joel Palma-Duarte of Greenville.
A Pitt County Magistrate issued a warrant for arrest for Palma-Duarte, charging him with four felony counts of statutory sex offense with a child by an adult and one count of indecent liberties with a child.
Palma-Duarte turned himself in on Wednesday, to the Pitt County Detention Center. He was booked and given a $2,000,000 secured bond.
