CHINAGROVE — Rowan County Sheriff’s officials arrested a south Rowan man last week on felony sex charges, saying these are only the latest accusations of taking indecent liberties with children.
Deputies arrested William David Smith, 52, of 265 Darlington Drive, just west of Landis, for one count of attempted first-degree sexual offense and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.
Smith was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under $100,000 secured bond.
Investigators say the victim in the latest charges was a pre-teen at the time of the incident and met Smith at Landis Baptist Church, 110 N. Kimmins Street.
According to Sheriff’s Detective L.H. Porter, Smith became acquainted with the victim’s family and offered to help the boy. The incident allegedly occurred about three years ago when the boy was at Smith’s home.
The Rev. Billy Honeycutt, pastor of Landis Baptist Church, confirmed that Smith is a member of the church, but he did not want to comment further.
He did say, “If he’s guilty, I hope he’s prosecuted to the max.”
Detective Porter said the latest investigation was prompted because the boy exhibited strange behavior when Smith was around.
The boy did not come forward, Porter said, because Smith told the boy of what happened to another boy Smith said he had molested.
Smith allegedly said that his victim, a 16-year-old boy, had hanged himself in 1995. Porter said investigators have confirmed a case of a teen-ager Smith knew hanging himself.
Smith’s criminal record shows he was charged in 1991 with seven counts of felony second-degree sexual offense. Those charges were reduced, and in 1993 he pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, a felony.
He was sentenced to six years in prison, but the sentence was suspended and he received five years probation, according to Rowan County court records.
Smith, however, has never served time in prison on any of the charges and he is not a registered sex offender.
Porter said Smith used to be a Boy Scout leader at two different churches and bus driver and janitor at Cabarrus County schools.
Officials with the Central N.C. Council of the Boy Scouts of America were not available for comment this morning.
Charlie Williams, personnel director for Cabarrus County Schools, said Smith worked for the school system in child nutrition from 1980 to ‘81 and as a school custodian from 1983 to 1989.
He worked at Winecoff and R. Brown McAllister elementary schools.
Porter said that none of Smith’s victims have been related to him.
Porter said that if anyone has information about additional victims, they should call the Sheriff’s Department at 636-1011.
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