LINCOLNTON, N.C. — A 37-year-old Gastonia man has been charged in connection to child sexual assault cases that date back to 2014, according to deputies.
Lincoln County deputies conducted the investigation that involved two victims who were known to the suspect. One victim, who is now an adult, was interviewed by a detective and the second victim who is a juvenile was interviewed at the Lincoln County Child Advocacy Center. During the interviews both victims disclosed the incidents occurred in 2014 and between 2017-2019.
Following the interviews, the suspect, identified as Edgar Jonathan Hernandez Sanchez, was charged with statutory sex offense, two counts of indecent liberties with a child, one count each of sexual activity by a substitute parent, crime against nature, statutory rape of a child less than 15 years old, sex offense with a child under 15 years old and felony child abuse with a sexual act, according to deputies.
Sanchez was taken before a Lincoln County magistrate and placed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.
