NEWTON, N.C. — Investigators say a man has been arrested twice in one week on child sex crime charges.
On Friday, January 13th, Donald Blankenship received additional charges related to an investigation into sexual misconduct with a minor, according to a news release. A search warrant had been put out for Blankenship’s home of 625 E. 11th Street Newton by both the Newton Police and F.B.I. The warrant came as a result of an investigation and the arrest of David Lee Perkins, formally of Newton.
Perkins was arrested in Joplin, Missouri and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Tammy Dickenson, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri announced that “Perkins has been charged in federal court with sexually assaulting a Joplin, Mo., area child in order to produce child pornography”.
It was during the investigation in Missouri that investigators say they discovered that Perkins had also been involved in the same kind of activity at the home of Blankenship. Detectives say the residence of 625 E. 11th Street is actually owned by David Lee Perkins.
Officers searched the home and uncovered evidence related to the crimes, in which Blankenship was involved. Blankenship was arrested with one count of Indecent Liberties with a Child and two counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
After interviews with a second victim, Blankenship was charged with an additional two counts of Indecent Liberties with Children. Blankenship was later placed in a Catawba County Detention Facility and given a $100,000 bond. However, The case is currently still under investigation with additional charges pending. Any other potential victims are encouraged to contact the Newton Police Department at 828-465-7430.
