James Murdoch Peele, Transportation of a Minor, North Carolina 2019
A former Ft. Bragg Private has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for transporting a 12-year-old girl across state lines in a fake kidnapping.
The crime occurred on October 21, 2018, when a New Bern woman discovered that her 12-year-old granddaughter was missing from her bedroom. A ransom note demanding $20,000 for her return was found at the scene.
Investigators found that the defendant, James Murdoch Peele, was enlisted in the US Army and stationed at Ft. Bragg. They traced him to a barracks room, where they found Peele with the minor victim. A forensic examination confirmed that Peele had recently had sexual intercourse with the minor.
Peele made a videotaped confession, admitting to having sexual intercourse with the minor victim. He also admitted to writing the ransom note, although he stated that the victim had asked to leave with him and had come up with the idea of staging a kidnapping.
Peele was arrested and charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was sentenced to 151 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan.
The Craven County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake D. Pugh and Erin Blondel prosecuted the case.
According to court documents, Peele had been involved in a sexual relationship with the minor victim. The victim had told Peele her true age, and he responded that age is just a number. The victim denied coming up with the idea to stage a kidnapping.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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