ROCKINGHAM — A registered sex offender is accused of attending a cheerleading competition over the weekend.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a registered sex offender at an unnamed local school that was hosting a cheer comp on Sunday, April 16.
When deputies arrived, they reportedly found 56-year-old Charles Rodruck Sargent, of Cordova, in attendance at the school.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Sargent was convicted in 2014 on a single count of sexual battery.
According to the N.C. Sex Offender Registry, the incidents happened in 2010 and there were two victims. Sargent was 43 at the time and the victims were 16 and 14.
Records show Sargent was sentenced to 24 months of probation and to be listed on the sex offender registry for a minimum of 10 years. He has no prior violations.
Deputies reportedly asked Sargent to walk outside and confirmed he “had not received prior authorization to be on school property.”
According to state law, registered sex offenders are barred from being at schools, child care centers, playgrounds, museums and the State Fair, among other places. Registrants who are parents with children in school must get permission from the superintendent or school board to be on school property and must be supervised by school personnel at all times.
Sargent was charged with violation of the sex offender registry and given a $25,000 secured bond. On Monday afternoon, he did not appear in Richmond County Jail records and his charge was not yet listed with the N.C. Court System, so his court date is unknown at the time of this writing.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
