Joseph Francis Sexton, 54, of Olin, has been charged with sexual assault of a child by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office received a report about the assault on Dec. 14. Det. Sgt. Amy Dyson of the Special Victims Unit learned the assaults occurred from 2003 to 2008. The child was between the ages of 5 and 9. The child was interviewed at the Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center.

Several witnesses were identified and interviewed. Sexton was charged with one count of indecent liberties with a child and four counts of first-degree sex offense with a child.

Sexton is being held in the Iredell County Detention Center under $225,000 bond.