Deputies searching for Gold Hill man charged with statutory rape

(This story has been updated to include that Callahan-Fletcher was arrested.)

ROWAN COUNTY — Deputies are searching for a man that they say sexually assaulted a juvenile in May.

The investigation began after deputies were called to check the welfare of a pre-teen juvenile in eastern Rowan County on May 18, according to a release from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. The deputies reportedly found the juvenile in a home with an 18-year-old male, identified as Gold Hill resident Stewart Allen Callahan-Fletcher.

The deputies also found evidence in the home that suggested the two had been sexually involved with each other and arrested Callahan-Fletcher and charged him with contributing to the delinquency of a minor for providing contraband to the juvenile, according to the release. According to sheriff’s office records, Callahan-Fletcher was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center and given a $3,000 bond. The deputies also reportedly began to investigate the potential sexual relationship further.

A forensic interview and physical evidence indicated that Callahan-Fletcher had sexual intercourse with the juvenile both the day of and the day prior to the deputies arresting him, according to the release. On Tuesday, the deputies reportedly took out additional arrest warrants for Callahan-Fletcher for two counts first-degree statutory rape and one county of indecent liberties with a child. However, they discovered that he had been released from jail at some point between May 18 and Tuesday, according to the release.

Callahan-Fletcher was arrested by the Salisbury Police Department at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond, according to online jail records.

Anyone with information of his whereabouts is asked to call Detective Ryan Dangerfield at 704-216-8662, Sergeant Janet Wietbrock at 704-216-8704 or Rowan County Crime Stoppers at 866-639-5245. Anyone who wishes to submit an anonymous tip to crime stoppers can also go to rowancrimestoppers.org and click on the submit a tip button.

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