JURY CONVICTS MAN OF AGGRAVATED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

RALEIGH, N.C. - A federal jury convicted David Leonard Mayes, 41, of aggravated sexual abuse against a child.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Mayes raped a nine-year-old severely autistic, nonverbal child while visiting her family on Camp Lejeune. The victim's mother arrived home early and found her daughter's door closed. Alarmed, she opened the door and caught Mayes in the act. Investigators found a tub of petroleum jelly in her room, with Mayes's fingerprint on it. Forensic testing showed the victim's DNA on Mayes's genitals and a petroleum jelly substance around both of their genitals.

"This monster preyed on the most vulnerable nine-year-old imaginable. He exploited his relationship with the family to violate this defenseless innocent child in the most inhuman ways imaginable. Rather than admit his heinous crime, he further traumatized the family by forcing them to recount what he did before the jury in open court. We will protect the heroes aboard Camp Lejeune and their daughters. We proudly secured this conviction from a jury of American citizens and look forward to advocating for a sentence that will ensure this predator will never hurt another child ever again," said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

"Mr. Mayes must be held accountable for targeting and cruelly exploiting a particularly vulnerable child for illicit, selfish gratification," said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish of the NCIS Carolinas Field Office. "NCIS and our law enforcement partners are unwaveringly committed to protecting Department of the Navy warfighters and their families by disrupting and rigorously investigating those who prey on innocent children."

Mayes faces a mandatory minimum of at least 30 years and up to life in prison at sentencing.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. The NCIS investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Haughton and Ashley Foxx prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North CarolinaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-74.