CMPD Reports Alarming Spike In Sexual Assault Cases Involving Children

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg detectives say a rise in sexual assault cases involving children this past year is cause for concern.

Detectives report a 210 percent increase in sexual assaults involving children since 2020, meaning there have been 31 cases reported in 2021 compared to 10, during the same time frame, in 2020.

Police say it is important to know these cases are not random, as the vast majority of sexual assault cases involve family members or someone the victim knows.

Detective Jessica Hall says she believes the spike in cases could be due to a delay in reporting, which can result from the child remaining with their abuser or being in a situation where they feel unsafe to tell anyone.

Hall says children were removed from many student activities due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, thus taking them away from schools and places with a trusted adult.

Hall says she hopes to see these kinds of cases reported much sooner, now that children are returning in-person to the classroom and have access to school resources including guidance counselors and trusted adults to report such acts.

Click to watch full CMPD briefing on Youtube.

Police say anyone with information about a case involving the sexual assault of a child is asked to call 911 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.