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Fort Bragg Soldier Arrested For Statutory Rape

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Cumberland County detectives on Tuesday arrested a Fort Bragg soldier and charged him with six counts of statutory rape of a child.

The arrest followed an investigation that began Jan. 30, when the 13-year-old victim disclosed to a social worker at school the details of the crimes. The social worker then reported the incident to the sheriff's office.

According to the sheriff's office, the suspect, 18-year-old William Jasper Connelly, met the victim at a local restaurant in September of 2002.

It was shortly after this meeting that the first crime occurred. At least five more incidents of rape took place over the next several months.

Connelly is an E-2 in the United States Army, assigned to Charlie Battery, 3/27th Field Artillery Regiment. He is being held in the Cumberland County Detention Facility under a $200,000 secured bond.

Connelly will have a first appearance in District Court at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

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