UPDATE: Man accused of sex crimes with children out on bond

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The man accused of sex crimes involving both a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old is out of jail on bond tonight after he appeared in court on his latest charges.

Nathaniel Ray Malpass was charged Thursday with two counts of sexual offense with a child, two counts of indecent liberties with a child, one count of assault on a child under the age of 12 and one count of crimes against nature.

“I mean he was a trusted person to our family. We considered him a part of our family,” the victims’ mother said in an interview June 28.

The victims’ mother did not want to speak Friday at Malpass’s first court appearance for his new charges.

In June, Malpass was arrested for three counts of first degree sexual offense on a 10-year-old girl. He was arrested again this week.

“The $300,000 bond that he is currently on is with a different victim,” Assistant District Attorney Timothy Severo said in court. “The victim in this case is, and that victim is also a minor child, the victim in this case is a four-year-old child.”

Search warrants detail these crimes. They say on at least three separate occasions, Malpass had inappropriate sexual contact with a 10-year-old girl. They say Malpass also touched the girl’s 4-year-old sister.

“He took advantage of a position of trust and authority to commit these crimes,” Severo said. “His wife was employed at the families house. That’s how he gained access to these children.”

Malpass’s wife Erica was also arrested and charged with obstructing justice. Erica Malpass was previously the nanny for the child victims in this case. She was in court for her husband’s appearance, but did not want to make any comments to WWAY NewsChannel 3.

“They trusted the nanny. So he took a position of trust and authority and abused that,” Severo said.

The victims’ family was also present at Malpass’ court appearance.

Nathaniel Malpass was being held in the New Hanover County Jail under a $1 million bond. Deputies at the jail say he bonded out late Friday night.