Columbus County man pleads guilty to attempted statutory rape

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Christopher Stephen Hughes pled guilty to three counts of attempted statutory rape by a defendant six years older than the victim.

Hughes was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison, has to register as a sex offender for 30 years after his release from prison, and cannot contact the victim for the rest of his life.

According to the district attorney’s office, Hughes was living at the home of a family friend of the victim when he tried to have sexual intercourse, oral sex, and digital penetration of the victim while she was visiting his home. The DA’s office said the first time he assaulted the victim was the night of her 13th birthday when Hughes was 19 years old.