A Gold Hill teenager is wanted for statutory rape of a child

The sheriff's office said on May 18, deputies with the Rowan County Sheriff's Office (RCSO) responded to a call for service requesting officers to check the welfare of a juvenile female at a home on Paradise Drive outside of Salisbury. While there, it was discovered that another juvenile, 12 years of age, and an 18-year-old male were present in the home.

Officers saw evidence to suggest that the two had been sexually involved with one another which prompted further investigation. The male, identified as Steward Allen Callahan-Fletcher of Gold Hill, was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for providing the juvenile with contraband, and investigators investigated the sexual relationship further, according to RCSO.

After a forensic interview of the child and collecting further evidence in the matter, investigators believe that intercourse and other sexual activities took place between the child and Fletcher the day of and prior to the response of the officers. Since his original arrest, he was released from jail, and on June 25, additional arrest warrants were issued on charges of two counts of first-degree statutory rape and one count of indecent liberties with a child, the sheriff's office said.

Investigators are currently searching for Fletcher. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Det. Ryan Dangerfield at 704-216-8662, Sgt. Janet Wietbrock at 704-216-8704, or Rowan County Crime Stoppers at 866-639-5245. Or you can go to rowancrimestoppers.org and click on the submit a tip button.