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Convicted sex offender arrested in New Hanover Co. for Pender Co. incident

By Kristy Ondo - bio|email

BURGAW, NC (WECT) - A Castle Hayne resident is facing charges, accused of sex crimes in Pender County.

35-year-old Randall Knodle Bryant, a registered sex offender, is charged with attempted kidnapping, attempted statutory rape, and indecent liberties with a child.  

Detective Scott Lawson said Bryant was charged with similar crimes in Ohio from 2002 and 2004, and was still on probation at the time of Thursday night's arrest.

Bryant's roommate said he knew about the previous record, but had no idea something may have happened here.

According to Lawson, Bryant tried to solicit sex from a 15-year-old boy near a bus stop in Hampstead.  The boy refused and immediately told his mother.  

"I'm really angry, to be quite honest with you," said the teen's mother.  "I just think our children are innocent, and they need to be protected."

Lawson said this can be a lesson for parents and urged them to talk to their kids often about what's going on in their lives.

The teen's mother said she is talking with her son about the incident regularly to make sure he knows it was not his fault.  She is urging parents to talk to their children as often as possible and to always ask questions. 

She said the situation could have been much worse, but it has shaken up the family. They plan to move to another home away from where the alleged incident took place.

Bryant showed little emotion as Detective Lawson silently escorted him inside the jail in handcuffs on Thursday night. 

He is being held in the Pender County jail under a $1 million bond.  He is scheduled to appear before a judge sometime next week.

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