A Brunswick County man pleads guilty to child abuse charges

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — A Brunswick County judge has sentenced a man to more than a decade in prison for certain sex crimes.

On Wednesday, October 9, Nicholas Drayton pleaded guilty to one count of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, three counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor.

Drayton was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jason Disbrow to 190-288 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.

The charges were brought about after a tip from the ICAC (International Crimes against Children) that an email address associated with Drayton had uploaded files to his account consistent with child abuse material. Detective Britton of the Leland Police Department obtained search warrants for Drayton’s email account, which yielded copious information. amounts of data, including photo and video files of minors performing sexual acts. Warrants were issued for Drayton’s arrest and for his cell phone, and upon arrest, Drayton admitted to having a sexual relationship with an underage minor child.

As a result of this plea, Drayton could spend up to 24 years in prison. Additionally, Drayton will have to register as a sex offender upon his release.