Raleigh church's choir director accused of statutory rape

John Earl Wright, 31, the choir director of Body of Christ Church in Raleigh, was arrested Thursday on one count of statutory rape/sex offense as well as two counts of giving spirituous liquor to a person under age 21.

The alleged crimes happened Thursday at Wright's home, at 2109 Rosebud Drive in Knightdale, with a 14-year-old girl, Knightdale Police Chief Jason Godwin said Monday.

It appears Wright knew the girl through the church, but Godwin would not say exactly how.

"There's some type of relationship there," he said. "We're unsure of exactly what that relationship is."

Knightdale police were alerted early Friday morning after the girl told her mother.

"We were informed by family members of the victim, we initiated the investigation in the wee hours of the morning, and we were able to make an arrest that same day," Godwin said.

Wright was in the Wake County jail Monday afternoon under a $500,000 bond.

Calls seeking comment from the church's pastor, Kelvin Redmond, were not immediately returned Monday.

Police are encouraging anyone else who may have been a victim to come forward.

"The worst thing we can do is hide an inappropriate behavior, especially one that involves our children," Godwin said.