ROCKINGHAM — Investigators have charged a man who they say tried to get a child witness to change their story in a sex abuse case.
Donnie Ray Ingram, 68, of Rockingham, is accused of coaching a 9-year-old witness on Dec. 25 to recant a statement made in the case against Stacy Marie Brown.
Brown, 54, allegedly held a minor — between the ages of 3 and 8 — in sexual servitude. Antion Lee Sowell, 35, of East Rockingham, is accused of engaging in sexual acts with the reported victim.
Brown and Sowell were arrested in September 2025.
Brown was charged with seven counts of human trafficking of a child victim. Sowell was charged with one count each of statutory sex offense with a child by an adult, committing a crime against nature, and taking indecent liberties with a child.
Court records appear to show the trafficking charges were dismissed in October 2025 when Brown was indicted on four counts of felony child abuse by sexual act upon a child, with the alleged acts taking place in 2020, 2021, 2021 and 2024.
Sowell was indicted on that statutory sex offense and indecent liberties charges, but the crime against nature charge was dismissed.
Both Brown and Sowell are still being held in the Richmond County Jail, each on a $2 million secured bond.
A warrant for Ingram’s arrest, charging him with one felony count of intimidating a witness, was issued Jan. 30 and he was arrested the same day. Ingram is being held on a $100,000 secured bond and his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 12.
Court records show Ingram was cited by the Rockingham Police Department for soliciting in August and October and has failed to appear in court in both cases.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Ingram has a criminal record dating back nearly 40 years:
1986 - misdemeanor larceny
1987 - damage to property
1993 - three counts of selling a Schedule II controlled substance
1995 - possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance
1996 - possession with intent to sell or deliver a counterfeit controlled substance
1999 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance
2001 - possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance; maintaining any place for a controlled substance
2003 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance
2005 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, resisting a public officer
2008 - selling a Schedule II controlled substance, being a habitual felon
2014 - possession of a Schedule II controlled substance
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
