Parole revoked for man convicted of sex crimes in New Hanover County

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission has terminated the parole agreement for Bernard H. Massenburg, a convicted offender serving a life sentence for first-degree sexual assault, along with multiple counts of first-degree kidnapping and first-degree sexual offenses.

Massenburg was initially approved for parole in March 2022 through the Mutual Agreement Parole Program, a structured scholastic and vocational program involving collaboration between the Commission, the Division of Prisons, and the offender.

However, the Commission announced that the MAPP agreement has been revoked, effective immediately.

Massenburg’s case, originally sentenced under pre-1994 guidelines that allow parole, will be reviewed for parole again on or about Nov. 25, 2026, according to the Commission.

The state’s Structured Sentencing law, enacted in October 1994, eliminates parole for crimes committed after that date. However, the Commission remains responsible for overseeing parole for offenders sentenced under earlier guidelines.