ROCKINGHAM — A Richmond County man is facing eight felony charges related to allegations of sexual abuse of a child that reportedly started nearly a decade ago.
The defendant, 45-year-old Marin Vazquez Valencia, of Rockingham, began engaging in sexual acts with the reported victim in 2017. At the time, the reported victim was 8 years old and Valencia was 37, according to an arrest warrant.
The alleged abuse continued for at least four years, according to the warrant.
The warrant was issued Jan. 22 to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, charging Valencia with: five counts of statutory sex offense with a child by an adult; and one count each of statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger, taking indecent liberties with a child, and felony child abuse by sexual act.
Valencia was arrested Feb. 12 and booked into the Richmond County Jail, where he is being held without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 26.
Records show Valencia has no other pending charges or prior criminal convictions in the state.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
