Dad encouraged his 15-year-old to have sex with 34-year-old man, NC sheriff says

The father of a 15-year-old is facing felony child abuse accusations for allegedly encouraging her to have a months-long sexual relationship with a man twice her age, according to a North Carolina arrest warrant.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the statutory rape investigation, including two members of the teen’s family, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office says.

Among the suspects are the girl’s 46-year-old father and a 67-year-old “guardian” in the home, court records report. The two are charged with felony child abuse-sexual act, misdemeanor failure to prevent juvenile abuse, and misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, the sheriff’s office said in a May 14 news release.

They were arrested Wednesday at the family’s home near Lumberton, and are being held under a $250,000 secured bond, officials said.

The suspect accused of raping the girl has been identified as Jonathan M. Hunt, 34, of Rowland, officials said. He was arrested Tuesday, and charged with statutory rape of a person 15 years of age or younger, the sheriff’s office said.

Court documents report the girl’s father and the 67-year-old “guardian” encouraged and aided the crime by “allowing” Hunt to have sex with the teen in the family’s home from June 1, 2025, and April 14, 2026.

Lumberton is about a 95-mile drive southwest from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 8:10 AM with the headline "Dad encouraged his 15-year-old to have sex with 34-year-old man, NC sheriff says."