Police looking at unsolved rape cases

Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh police said Wednesday they are looking at unsolved rape cases to see if they might be connected to a convicted sex offender arrested this week on a first-degree rape charge.

"As part of a process, we will look at other cases that have occurred where this suspect may have been involved and as part of," police spokesman Jim Sughrue said.

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Rape suspect has long criminal history

Investigators say Donald Wesley Currin Jr., 33, of 7200 Sunset View Court, raped a woman at knifepoint at a construction site on South Saunders Street last Friday.

Currin, who is also charged with first-degree sexual offense, was in the Wake County jail Wednesday afternoon under a $1 million secured bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 18.

According to state Department of Correction records, Currin has a long criminal history with 18 arrests in Wake County dating to 1994, on charges that include assault on a female, burglary and taking indecent liberties with a child.

At the time of his arrest Monday, Currin was on 36 months of probation for kidnapping a 10-year-old child in January. Court records show that he was also charged with assault on a child, but that it was consolidated under a plea agreement in August.