Harold Lee Massey, 62, a funeral director and gospel singer from Littleton, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with child abuse over a six-year period.
Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said that Massey was being charged with 50 counts of indecent liberties with a child and 31 counts of statutory sexual offenses.
The victim, who has not been identified, was a male child who was 6 when Massey allegedly began to abuse him in 2006 and 13 in 2012, when they ended.
Sheriff Tripp would not comment on any possible relationship between Massey and the victim, saying that the investigation is still open. The sheriff had no comment on why Massey’s alleged crimes took so long to be discovered. He said the crimes were committed in Halifax County, but would not specify a location.
The case was investigated by sheriff’s detectives Cory Griffin and Robert Hale. Massey, a North Carolina native who owns and operates funeral homes in Aulander, Jackson, and Roanoke Rapids, is known locally as a promoter of gospel music events and a recording artist who sings and plays guitar and piano, and has recorded five albums.
He posted a $250,000 bond and is expected to appear in Halifax County District Court on February 15.
