Pender man guilty in sex crimes involving children

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — An Atkinson man is headed to prison for at least 25 years following convictions of sex crimes involving children.

Joshua Adam Stroessenreuther, 22, was scheduled to go to trial this week on charges of an incident in Pender County from December 2014. After that arrest, a second victim came forward from another incident in New Hanover County from earlier in 2014. As the trial was underway for the first incident, Stroessenreuther decided to plead guilty to charges including first degree sex offense with a child and indecent liberties with a child in both cases. The victims were both known to Stroessenreuther, but WWAY is not going to reveal any other details to protect the victims’ identities.

“This plea prevented two children from having to testify in court and face the predator who harmed them,” District Attorney Ben David said in a news release. “Let this lengthy sentence be a warning for those who prey on our children that we will stop at nothing to put you in prison.”

After the prison sentence of between 25 and 35 years, Stroessenreuther will be registered as a sex offender for life and will be under satellite-based monitoring.