SALISBURY — Charles Gilbert Gillespie of Salisbury was convicted by a jury this week in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony second degree sexual offense, felony second degree kidnapping and felony assault by strangulation.
Following the jury’s verdict, Gillespie admitted to his status of being a habitual felon. Judge Hugh B. Lewis sentenced the defendant to an active prison sentence of a minimum of 146 months (12.16 years) to a maximum of 185 months (15.41 years). Gillespie was further ordered to register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victim.
According to a press release from the district attorney’s office, on May 16, 2011, the victim reported to law enforcement that she had been assaulted. She said her boyfriend, Gillespie, had gone into the kitchen and he became upset when he noticed all the beer was gone. She said she ran into the bathroom and locked the door. Gillespie kicked the door open, grabbed her by the hair, hit her in the head with his fist and forced her into the bedroom. The victim said Gillespie then forcibly sexually assaulted her.
She said he also hit and strangled her, and she could not breathe.
She went to the house of her neighbor, who called 911. Photographs taken at the time showed the victim’s extensive injuries from the assault.
Gillespie was previously convicted of felony restraint, felony carrying concealed gun and felony larceny, in addition to several assault convictions.
District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciated the hard work of Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould in preparing the case for trial.
“It can be difficult for victims of these types of crimes to come forward and tell strangers what happened,” Cook said. “However, in this case, the victim testified against her attacker at trial and our office was able to seek justice on her behalf.”