Man accused of sex crimes with teenage girl in Lexington

LEXINGTON, N.C. — A Thomasville man was arrested Tuesday after being accused of sex crimes with a teenager, according to Lexington police.

Police said they received a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 800 block of W. 8th Ave., and when they arrived they found Forrest Gobble, 37, and a 14-year-old girl inside from the car around 3:45 p.m.

After an investigation, police determined they were in the car engaging in sexual activity and Gobble met the girl online.

Police said Gobble was accused of:

• Statutory rape of a child
• Indecent liberties with a minor
• Solicitation of a child by an electronic device

Gobble was held without bail in the Davidson County Jail and is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Lexington District Court on Tuesday, June 4.

This is an ongoing investigation that LPD detectives and victim advocates continue to work on. During the initial investigation, it was determined that Gobble was post-release following a prior conviction for a child sex offense. Detectives are also in communication with the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections regarding this matter to ensure appropriate information is shared for further accountability measures.

The Lexington Police Department encourages parents and guardians to monitor their children's digital devices and social media accounts to protect them from predators like Forrest Gobble.

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