A 20-year-old North Carolina college student faces decades in prison after she was arrested on charges accusing her of raping a 14-year-old boy.
Taylor Moseley surrendered at the Pender County Courthouse last week after a warrant for her arrest charging her with statutory rape, statutory sex offense and indecent liberties with a child was issued by the Surf City Police Department, the Wilmington Star News reports.
Moseley was booked into the Pender County Jail on $250,000 bail on July 18. As of July 23, Moseley was no longer in custody at the jail after being released “by court order,” jail records show. Details of that court order were not immediately available.
Here’s what you need to know about Taylor Moseley and the case:
1. Moseley Met the Boy Through a Mutual Friend at the Bar Where She Was Working,
Police Say
Taylor Ashton Moseley met the 14-year-old boy through a mutual friend at JM’s Place, a bar in Surf City where Moseley and her friend were working, WITN-TV reports.
Police said the incidents that led to the charges occurred in May, WCTI-TV reports.
Further details about the case against Moseley were not immediately available.
2. Police Say They Began Investigating After the 14-Year-Old’s Mother Learned About Moseley’s ‘Relationship’ With Him
Police began investigating after the 14-year-old victim’s mother learned about the “relationship” her son had with Moseley, WNCN-TV reports. The mother reported the “relationship” to the Pender County Department of Social Services, which in turn referred the case to the Surf City Police, authorities said.
The investigation concluded on July 18 and Moseley turned herself in after she was notified there was a warrant out for her arrest.
She was charged with statutory rape, statutory sex offense with a child and indecent liberties with a child.
3. Moseley, a Topsail High School Grad, Also Has Pending Charges for Speeding & Driving After Drinking While Under 21
Taylor Moseley lives in Sneads Ferry, WITN-TV reports.
According to her Facebook page, Moseley went to Topsail High School in Hampstead, North Carolina. She graduated from Topsail in 2015.
According to court records, Moseley has an unrelated case pending against her in Onslow County court. She was charged with speeding and driving after consuming alcohol while under 21, court records seen by Heavy show. Details of that arrest were not immediately available.
She is due in court on September 14 in that case. Moseley faces up to 60 days in jail if convicted of the underage drinking and driving charge, and a fine for the speeding infraction.
She could not be reached for comment and it is not clear if she has hired an attorney.
Moseley replied to a Facebook comment on Saturday about her case. A Washington man posted a link to a news post about the arrest and wrote, “that kid was lucky,” in a comment on one of her photos.
Moseley replied, “you are disgusting dude get off of my sh*t.”
4. She Is a Student at East Carolina University & Wants to Be a Child Psychologist
Moseley is a student at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, according to her Facebook page.
The school told WITN-TV she was a student at the school as of the spring semester and was majoring in psychology. Her status as a student was not immediately clear after her arrest.
Moseley is hoping to be a child psychologist, according to a Youtube video posted by an ECU student government group.
5. Moseley Faces More Than 50 Years in Prison if Convicted of the Charges
Taylor Ashton Moseley faces a lengthy prison sentence if she is convicted of all three charges against her.
According to state law, statutory rape and statutory sex offenses are both Class B1 felonies, which carry potential sentences of up to 25 years in prison, along with sex offender registration, fines and probation. The minimum sentence for each of the statutory sexual assault charges is 12 years in prison.
Indecent liberties with a child is a Class F felony carrying a maximum sentence of 24 months in prison.
Moseley appeared in court for the first time on July 18 and it is not known when her next court appearance is scheduled for.