Sex offender pleads guilty

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM FROM THE BRUNSWICK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE:

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC – Matthew Wayne Britt, 26, of Oak Island, pled guilty on Wednesday afternoon in Brunswick County Superior Court to nine (9) counts of Statutory Rape against a 13 year old girl from Michigan who was visiting her mother in Oak Island last summer. At the time of the offenses, Britt was married with a young child, and he was already a registered sex offender as the result of a prior conviction in Robeson County for Sex Offense in a Parental Role. Assistant District Attorney Meredith Everhart stated in court during the plea that the victim and Britt became involved in a sexual relationship during the month of August, and when the victim returned to Michigan in September, she told a friend that she and Britt had sex nine (9) times and that she was worried that she might be pregnant. The friend told the victim’s father, who found love letters and other mementos from Britt in the victim’s room, and law enforcement was contacted.

Britt was originally charged with three (3) counts of Statutory Rape, and those matters were set for trial last week when it was discovered that there was an error in the Grand Jury indictments. As a result, the trial was postponed and the Grand Jury met this past Monday and re-indicted Britt on the nine (9) counts that he pled to today. Judge Ola Lewis sentenced Britt to 202 – 252 months in prison, which is approximately 17 – 21 years. Because Britt is a repeat sex offender, he will now be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and he will have to enroll in satellite monitoring for his entire life as well.

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BACKGROUND ON THIS STORY FROM JULY 28:

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — Seems like those pesky problems with the prosecution just won’t go away. Yet another mistake by the District Attorney’s Office has the trial of an accused rapist on hold.

Jury selection was set to begin in the case of Matthew Wayne Britt Tuesday. Britt was going to face three counts of statutory rape, but the judge found a mistake in the indictment. Assistant District Attorney Meredith Everhardt declined to talk on camera, but says 26-year-old Britt is still in custody on $1 million bond. Everhardt says the trial could have gone on as scheduled if both parties had given it the OK, but Britt refused and the judge continued the case.

The District Attorney’s Office had to re-file charges against Britt, who now faces nine counts of statutory rape. Everhardt says the evidence always suggested there were nine counts, but it’s rare that anyone is sentenced to more than three terms at a time. Filing only three counts, she says, helped speed up the process.

Now the case will once again have to go all the way back to the grand jury, which will have to indict Britt for a second time.

The mistake will also cost taxpayers more money. In addition to the extra legal fees, the state pays for the victim’s family to travel back and forth – we understand to the tune of hundreds, perhaps even thousands of dollars. We tried to contact Britt’s attorney for comment, but he did not return our phone calls.