A Henderson County man was sentenced to at least 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual assault of a minor.
According to an Aug. 17 news release from District Attorney R. Andrew, who serves Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties, Mason Edgar Shields, 31, of Hendersonville, pleaded guilty in Henderson County Criminal Superior Court on Aug. 13 to statutory sexual offense of a person 15 years of age or younger. Superior Court Judge Steve Warren sentenced Shields to a minimum term of 192 months (16 years) and a maximum term of 291 months (24 years) in the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, the release said.
According to the investigation and court trial records, the 15-year-old victim was a family friend, and Shields took advantage of that relationship to groom the child. Warren also ordered Shields to register as a sex offender for 30 years and abide by the special laws regulating those who commit sex offenses.
Assistant District Attorney Michael VanBuren handled the prosecution and sentencing of this crime, the release said. Murray thanked the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office along with lead Detective James Hurn and assisting Detective Dakota Hendrix for their investigation of this case. He also credited Safelight Child Advocacy Center for providing needed services to the victim.
“Cases involving children will always be a priority for my office, and those who violate children will be held accountable.," Murray said in the release.
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS.
