Catawba County Man Convicted Of Attempted Statutory Rape

54-year-old Sean Christopher Blankenship of Catawba, will serve 10 to 17 years in prison following his conviction for attempted statutory rape of a person 15-years-old or younger during Catawba County Superior Court on Monday.

The Honorable Donald R. Cureton, Superior Court Judge from Mecklenburg County, imposed terms of the active sentence after Blankenship entered the guilty plea. The defendant will also be required to register as a sex offender for a period of 30 years and complete a sex offender treatment program while he is in prison.

The offense occurred May 16-17, 2024, and involved a minor female who was 13-years-old at the time. The victim sent a series of text messages and made phone calls to other people, informing them that she had been sexually assaulted.

During a forensic interview with the Children’s Advocacy and Protection Center of Catawba County, the victim told interviewers that the defendant had been drinking and took her into a bedroom and the living room where he committed sexual acts against her.

During a custodial interview, Blankenship didn’t deny the allegations but claimed he didn’t remember what happened.

Russ Boger was the lead investigator for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. The Children’s Advocacy and Protection Center of Catawba County provided assistance. Assistant District Attorney Jessica Phillips prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Dea Crowe.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY