By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — A China Grove man is charged with inappropriately touching two young girls. The father of one girl contacted authorities to say the man confessed to the offenses, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

Mark Richard Page, 60, of the 100 block of Edgewood Circle, was charged with two counts of felony taking indecent liberties with children. He was also charged with one count of felony statutory sex offense stemming from an incident for which warrants were issued Oct. 3.

Page was also charged Wednesday with four counts of felony statutory sexual offense by an adult and four counts of felony taking indecent liberties with children.

The father of a 9-year-old girl told authorities that he was aware of accusations and an investigation that Page inappropriately touched a 12-year-old.

Authorities said Page knew both girls before the incidents.

The parents of the 12-year-old brought her to talk with investigators in September after they noticed odd behavior. The parents said they sat their daughter down to talk with her and she told them what happened.

Page remains in the Rowan County jail under a $50,000 secured bond.