Pender County man sentenced to 20 years in prison

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — On Wednesday a Pender County man admitted to sexually abusing a relative.

Jorge Salazar-Santiago pled guilty to first degree statutory rape and first-degree statutory sex offense.

Santiago was sentenced to prison by a Wayne County judge for 20 to 29 years.

According to the DA’s office, Salazar-Santiago began sexually abusing a relative when she was in third grade and continued to physically and sexually abuse her until it was reported when she was in high school.

The Pender County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation, and the Carousel Center conducted several forensic interviews with the victim.

A recorded phone call was made between the victim and Salazar-Santiago where he acknowledged having sex with the child.

When Salazar-Santiago was questioned, he ran and was found by a K-9 deputy hiding in the woods and placed under arrest.