Public Radio East serves Eastern North Carolina by providing news, fine arts, and informational programming that challenges, stimulates, educates, and entertains an intellectually curious audience.

© 2026 Public Radio East

Public Radio East
800 College Court
New Bern, NC 28562

EIN 56-1802728
Public Radio For Eastern North Carolina 89.3 WTEB New Bern 88.5 WZNB New Bern 91.5 WBJD Atlantic Beach 90.3 WKNS Kinston 89.9 W210CF Greenville
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lenoir County man charged with child rape, incest after months-long investigation

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published May 10, 2024 at 7:09 AM EDT
Richard Sparrow is charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, committing a statutory sex offense with a child under the age of 15, statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, and felony incest.
Walt Howard
/
Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office
Richard Sparrow is charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, committing a statutory sex offense with a child under the age of 15, statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, and felony incest.

A Deep Run man has been arrested on child sex charges after a months-long investigation by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and Lenoir County Department of Social Services.

An investigation into sexual assault claims against Richard Sparrow, 38, started in January when deputies and detectives responded to complaints filed at the Lenoir County Magistrate’s Office.

Sparrow was accused of repeatedly sexually molesting and assaulting a juvenile.

He is charged with taking indecent liberties with a child, committing a statutory sex offense with a child under the age of 15, statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, and felony incest.
Annette Weston
Annette is an award-winning journalist based in Eastern North Carolina. Her career includes professional stops across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast, recently culminating in a 2026 Region 8 Edward R. Murrow Award for Small Market Radio Best News Series for her work on the Camp Lejeune Justice Act Series. Guided by a passion for human-interest storytelling, she focuses on narratives that touch hearts and connect communities. A mother of four and grandmother of two, Annette enjoys reading and creating epic Halloween costumes in her spare time. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston