Gov. Easley signs penalty bill for sex offenders

Editor

A 50-year-old Hamptonville man, who is facing multiple felony sex charges with underaged girls, could face a minimum prison sentence of 25 years now that Gov. Mike Easley has signed into measure new laws for sex offenders who commit certain crimes against children.

The measure, known as Jessica's Law, is named after former Gaston County resident Jessica Lunsford. The 9-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and buried alive by a convicted sex offender in 2005 in Florida.

Easley signed the bill on Monday. He was joined at the bill signing ceremony by Jessica Lunsford's father, Mark Lunsford, who has lobbied states across the country to approve similar measures to protect children from dangerous child predators.

The law requires adult offenders who commit certain sex crimes - including rape - against children under the age of 13 to be imprisoned for 25 years to life. Offenders who are released will be monitored by satellite for life.

Easley said the law shows that North Carolina is committed to ensuring that children are protected from "vicious predators."

"We will make sure they spend more time in prison and we will track them 24/7 to make sure they never abuse children again," Easley said in a statement.

Tony Gray Sloop is charged with four counts each of first-degree rape of a child and first-degree sex offense with a child. According to court records, the victim was under the age of 13.

Sloop was arrested in late April by deputies with the Yadkin County Sheriff's Office after an alleged victim came forward. According to the criminal indictments, Sloop maintained a relationship with the girl from December to April 15

Sloop, who was indicted last month on 22 charges involving sexual offenses with underaged girls, is also facing 100 felony counts of secret peeping. Sloop allegedly used several pinhole cameras, which were mounted behind a wall in the tanning salon, to photograph at least seven female victims, according to arrest warrants. The incidents took place from 2004 to 2006.

Sloop is in the Yadkin County Jail with a secured bond set at $866,000. He is scheduled to appear next month in Yadkin County Superior Criminal Court on the felony sex charges and Sept. 16 in Yadkin County District Criminal Court on the felony peeping charges.