HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina state House member has been charged with sex-related offenses involving a teenager earlier this year, according to court records.
Six-term Democratic Rep. Cecil Brockman, 41, of High Point, was arrested Wednesday on two counts each of statutory sexual offense with a child and taking indecent liberties with a child, per a magistrate’s arrest order.
Brockman was held without bond at the High Point Jail Thursday, with a court appearance scheduled later that day, according to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest order alleges that around Aug. 15, Brockman engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old and committed or attempted a “lewd and lascivious act” against the same juvenile, identified in court records by initials.
In response, the North Carolina Democratic Party, House Speaker Destin Hall (R), and House Democratic leader Rep. Robert Reives all called for Brockman to resign immediately from the General Assembly. “The profound seriousness of these criminal charges makes it impossible for him to effectively represent his community,” the state Democratic Party said in a statement.
Brockman did not comment Thursday morning, and a voicemail left on a listed number was not returned. Court records did not indicate whether he had legal representation.
State law mandates a minimum 12-year prison sentence for a conviction on a statutory sexual offense, while charges for taking indecent liberties with a child can carry prison time, probation, or both.
A magistrate’s document explaining why Brockman was denied release noted that, as a state representative, he has access to resources that could aid in evading prosecution. It also said he had attempted to contact the victim, including efforts to locate the teen in a hospital, and had sought to leverage his position to gain information about the victim’s whereabouts.
Brockman, first elected in 2014, has occasionally drawn criticism from fellow Democrats for voting with Republicans on key legislation. In July, he helped override some of Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes.
Previously involved in school choice initiatives, Brockman was named one of four vice chairs of the House K-12 education committee this term, joining three Republicans. He narrowly survived a 2024 primary challenge for his 60th House District seat, which covers southwest Guilford County.
No Comment! Be the first one.