ROCKWELL — A Rockwell man was arrested for sexual abuse of a child stemming from an October 2023 report.

David Wayne Mize Sr., 55, faces charges of taking indecent liberties with a minor. He was arrested on May 3 and subsequently released on a $15,000 bond.

According to information from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, last October, the parents of a 13-year-old reported that their child had been sexually abused by a family friend. 

Based on information obtained during the investigation, detectives believed the victim was assaulted at a home on Zion Church Road on Oct. 13, 2023. The victim immediately told family members, which resulted in the report to deputies the following day. 

Mize was identified as the suspect.

On May 3, he was served with an additional warrant for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. That charge stemmed from an incident that reportedly occurred on April 30, 2024, when deputies responded to a wooded area in the 600 block of Zion Church Road to do a welfare check.  

Mize was found at that location in a vehicle that was in a state of disrepair and inoperable. His 12-year-old daughter was located there with him and did not appear to have the necessities, such as food, running water, housing or transportation to and from school. Mize admitted to picking her up from a relative who was her primary caregiver. Based on that information, DSS was contacted. Officials made the decision to remove the juvenile from the care and custody of her primary caregiver. Arrangements were made for her to be placed with other relatives.

Mize received a $1,500 secured bond on that charge and has a pending court date of May 22.