FIRST ON 3: BSL mayor surrenders after warrants issued, attorney responds

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — Boiling Spring Lakes Mayor Richard White turned himself in this morning after a woman took out warrants against him for three counts of sexual battery and one count of assault on a female.

The alleged victim says she met White in the office of District Attorney Jon David, where White worked as an investigator. White resigned from the job earlier this year.

In the warrants, the victim says White grabbed her by the shoulder holding and preventing her from moving while trying to force her to kiss him. She also says he rubbed the top area of her buttocks with his hand on her bare skin and also kissed her by sticking his tongue down her throat, pressing her breast against his body and placed his hands on the top area of her buttocks.

The victim says she told the district attorney about White’s actions back in April. She says David then wanted her to file a formal complaint. Afterwards she says David called her the next day and said White no longer worked in the D.A.’s office.

This afternoon, White’s attorney Bruce Mason released a statement saying the allegations against White are “entirely false.”

“Law enforcement has already deemed these charges to be unsubstantiated and therefore declined to prosecute,” Mason said. “The accuser in this matter has a substantial history of false claims against judges, law enforcement and other public officials. She has brought false criminal charges against individuals that have been dismissed by the Brunswick County District Attorney’s Office.”

We asked Mason to clarify which law enforcement agency investigated the claims and didn’t prosecute. He said it was the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. However, a spokesman for the BCSO says he doesn’t know what Mason is talking about.

Mason said White expects to be exonerated and will pursue all legal remedies against his accuser.

WWAY does not identify victims of alleged sex crimes.