Hickory Man Recently Released From Prison Charged With Rape In Burke County

42-year-old Kenneth Anthony Elliott of Airport Rhodhiss Road in Hickory was arrested Sunday by Burke County Sheriff’s Deputies. He’s charged with felony second-degree forcible rape.

According to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections Offender Public Information website, Elliott was released from prison earlier this year after serving a sentence for a felony conviction last year. He was convicted of felony assault by strangulation in Burke County on August 21, 2023. He was sentenced to a maximum term of one-year, eight months and was released on parole on January 6, 2024.

Elliott has multiple convictions listed dating back to September 2001 in Burke, Catawba, and Lincoln Counties. All of the convictions prior to the 2023 strangulation case were on misdemeanor charges. Those charges include stalking, assault, trespassing, and communicating threats.

Elliott was arrested just before 10 p.m. Sunday at an address on Catawba Avenue in Hickory. He was brought to the Burke County Jail and incarcerated under no bond on a 48-hour hold or until a judge became available. A District Court date was scheduled Monday (March 4).

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY