RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) - A Fayetteville man was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of sex crimes involving a 9-year-old girl at Camp Lejeune military base.
In March, the U.S. Attorney's Office convicted David Mayes, 41 of aggravated sexual abuse of a child while on a military base.
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“This monster preyed on the most vulnerable nine-year-old imaginable,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “He exploited his relationship with her mother to violate her in disgustingly inhuman ways.”
Prosecutors said the man raped the severely autistic, nonverbal child while he was visiting her family on base. The victim’s mother came home early and found her daughter’s door closed. Alarmed, she opened the door and caught the man in the act, according to a news release.
“We will always fight to protect the heroes aboard Camp Lejeune and their mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives by stomping out spiders like this,” said Boyle. “The court’s sentence ensures this spider cannot hurt anyone else for 30 years.”
Prosecutors said they found Mayes’ fingerprints on a tub of petroleum jelly that was in victim’s room and her DNA on the man.
“The overwhelming forensic evidence secured by NCIS Special Agents left this predator with absolutely no place to hide, guaranteeing a swift conviction and a 30-year sentence, that removes a dangerous threat from the community,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish with the NCIS Carolinas Field Office.