The Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Monday that Yadkin had filed charges against Maynard Norman Peters, 51, of East Bend. Charges were initially reported on WXII on Sept. 24.

According to information provided by Lt. Phil Hamby of the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office, Peters was arrested after a joint investigation involving the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the King Police Department.

According to the WXII report, King Police arrested Peters last Wed. morning.

Hamby reported that charges filed in Yadkin County were one count of statutory rape of a person 13, 14 or 15 years old by a defendant who is more than six years older than the victim; one count of indecent liberties with a child, and one count of statutory sex offense of a person who is more than six years older than the victim.

Forsyth County charged Peters with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and the King Police charged him with one count of statutory rape of a person 13, 14 or 15 years old by a defendant who is more than six years older than the victim; and one count statutory sex offense of a person 13, 14 or 15 years old by a defendant who is more than six years older than the victim.

Peters has a long criminal history according to the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

Charges began around 1977, including obstructing justice, safecracking, burning of a public building, breaking and entering and larceny of a motor vehicle. Peters was released from prison in July of 1989.

WXII reported that Peters had met the victim in person and cultivated the relationship through on-line contact, text messaging and a cell phone. King police told WXII that neither the child’s parents, nor school officials were aware of the contact, though Peters is suspected of taking the girl from her school and from her home to his residence in East Bend.

Hamby reported that Peters is currently incarcerated in the Forsyth County Detention Center under a combined secured bond of $455,000.

Peters was scheduled to appear in Yadkin County District Court on Sept. 30 to answer charges and again on Oct. 10. He will answer charges in Forsyth on Nov. 18 and in Stokes County on Oct. 5.

Hamby suggested that parents who are concerned about protecting their children against internet predators may obtain additional information on the North Carolina Attorney General’s website at www.ncdoj.gov.

This site contains a link to a site that provides information on how to protect kids on the internet. If parents believe their child is a victim, they should contact the Yadkin County Sheriff’s Office.