By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

A Woodleaf man was charged recently with sex offenses with a young girl over a four-year period, Rowan County Sheriff’s officials said.

Troy Michael Stewart, 31, of the 500 block of Erwin Temple Church Road, was charged on July 31 with felony first-degree sex offense.

Authorities said the victim, who is known to Stewart, reported to the Rowan County Department of Social Services on July 22 and the agency contacted Rowan authorities. The victim is 10 and the abuse began when she was six.

Stewart was initially issued a $150,000 secured bond, but following additional charges issued on Aug. 1, he remains in the county jail under a $650,000 secured bond.

Stewart also faces three counts of indecent liberties with a child, two counts of felony statutory sex offense of a child by an adult, 15 counts of felony statutory sex offense of a child by an adult and 15 counts of indecent liberties with a child.