Staff report

Matthew Darrell Curtner of Salisbury was convicted last week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of five counts of felony statutory rape/sex offenses, five counts of felony indecent liberties with a child, and one count of felony crime against nature.

According to a press release from the district attorney’s office, Judge Vance Bradford Long sentenced Curtner to a minimum of 252 months (21 years) to a maximum of 363 months (30.25 years) in prison. Curtner was further ordered to submit to mandatory satellite based monitoring and will also be required to register as a sex offender.

On March 21, 2012, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department received a report of possible sexual abuse involving an 11-year old female. The child had made reports to friends at school that she thought she may be pregnant.

Detectives spoke with the 11-year old who said that Curtner had molested her, starting when she was 5 years old. The child stated that Curtner would come into her bedroom late at night and had threatened to hurt her family if she told anyone.

Detectives spoke to Curtner about the allegations and he admitted that he had been molesting the child. Curtner said he had a problem and had performed several sexual acts upon the child and had been sexually active with dogs that lived near his home.

He also admitted that he had inappropriately touched another child several years ago. Detectives located the other child who told detectives Curtner had molested her in the past when she lived near him.

District Attorney Brandy Cook said “she appreciated the dedication of Assistant District Attorney Paxton Butler in the prosecution of the case, along with the thorough investigation conducted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department.”