2 arrested for alleged child sexual abuse in Stanly, Montgomery counties

Published 10:02 am Tuesday, May 30, 2023

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Two people have been arrested for child sexual abuse following an investigation by Stanly County Sheriff’s Office.

SCSO investigators, along with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigators, received a report in March alleging sexual abuse against a juvenile. During the investigation it was discovered James Gillis and Jennifer Bryant had been allegedly committing offenses in Stanly and Montgomery counties.

On May 3, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division investigators secured warrants on Gillis and Bryant. It was later discovered Gillis and Bryant had fled the state and were arrested in Colorado.

On May 23, Gillis and Bryant were extradited back to Stanly County and booked in the Ralph McSwain Detention Center.

Gillis

Gillis, 32, faces three counts of felony crimes against nature, three counts of felony intentional child abuse, four counts of felony statutory rape of a child less than or equal to 15 years old, two counts of felony second-degree forcible sex offense and two counts of felony statutory sex offense with a child by and adult.

He is jailed under a $4.5 million bond.

Bryant

Bryant, 31, faces two counts of felony intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury. She is jailed under a $1.5 million bond.

Further charges are pending on Bryant out of Montgomery County, according to the sheriff’s office.