North Carolina authorities charged a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune on Friday with three felony sex offenses against a minor after law enforcement investigated a September report from social services that a minor had been sexually abused.
Lance Cpl. Zayne Melton, 22, was arrested by Onslow County, North Carolina, officials and charged last week with alleged statutory rape of a child under 15 years old; statuatory sex offense with a child; and indecent liberties with a child, according to a social media post from the county sheriff's office on Friday.
Melton's bond was posted at $800,000, and he was detained at the Onslow County Detention Center after his arrest Friday. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 6, according to the social media post.
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"Our command is fully cooperating with local authorities as they conduct their investigation," Capt. Nikki McDougall, a spokesperson for 2nd Marine Logistics Group, or 2nd MLG, out of Camp Lejeune, said in an emailed statement to Military.com on Monday.
McDougall said that Melton is a motor vehicle operator with the 2nd MLG. She referred additional questions regarding his arrest and the investigation to the Onslow County Sheriff's Office.
Onslow County Sheriff's Office personnel received a report from the county's social services department about the alleged abuse on Sept. 18, according to its Friday social media post.
Law enforcement, along with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, interviewed Melton on Feb. 7, the post said. The next week, detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest. The sheriff's office said that the investigation remains ongoing and that detectives will continue to review evidence.
"The victim was forensically interviewed as detectives identified 22-year-old Zayne Melton as the suspect," the social media post said. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office did not have any additional information to offer about the case or investigation when contacted by Military.com on Monday.
A representative for the Onslow County Detention Center told Military.com on Monday that Melton was still in custody. A lawyer representing Melton, Stuart Popkin, did not have any comment about the case when reached by the publication.
Military.com previously reported that a Marine Corps noncommissioned officer was charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter for the alleged killing of a civilian on Camp Lejeune last year.
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