In Fayetteville, the wheels of justice have turned in a troubling direction, as another alleged rapist has been released from jail despite facing serious accusations involving a young victim—a mere 13-year-old child.
Court documents reveal that 20-year-old James Garner was taken into custody last Tuesday, charged with statutory rape of a minor. According to warrants obtained by The North Carolina Beat, the victim was just 13 years old, while Garner was 19 at the time of the alleged crime, which reportedly occurred on October 13, 2024—just two days shy of his 20th birthday.
Initially, Garner was slapped with a $1 million bond, but the circumstances surrounding a Cumberland County judge’s decision to reduce it to $75,000 remain murky. Now, he finds himself back in the community, living with his mother on Java Drive.
As part of his release agreement, Garner is prohibited from contacting the victim and is required to wear a GPS monitor, as detailed in documents obtained. Police had secured warrants for Garner’s arrest on October 25, and he was released on the reduced bond just last Friday.
