09/15/2006

Associated Press

A Boiling Spring Lakes police officer has been charged with the statutory rape of a teenage girl with whom he communicated with on MySpace, a popular Internet site, authorities said.

Brunswick County deputies arrested Luther Stidham, 36, on Thursday at the police department, where he had been an officer for slightly more than a year. The girl he is accused of having sex with is 14.

Stidham faces felony charges of statutory rape, statutory sex offense and two counts of indecent liberties with a child.

Boiling Spring Lakes police Chief Richard White said Stidham's arrest warrant says the two maintained their relationship through MySpace. White did not know whether the two met on MySpace or who alerted authorities.

Authorities said the crimes occurred throughout July and one day in August.

The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.

Stidham is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the case, City Manager David Lewis said.

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Information from: The Star-News, http://starnewsonline.com