SOUTHPORT, NC — The Southport Police Department has filed charges following an investigation into a reported sexual assault involving two individuals who were in a domestic relationship at the time of the alleged incident.
According to the department, the investigation began after the victim reported an incident that occurred at a Southport residence in April 2025. Detective Riley K. Ransom Jr. conducted interviews and reviewed information and evidence provided during the course of the investigation.
Police have charged Timothy Reed Spell in connection with the reported incident. Spell was arrested on August 26, 2026. The charge filed is Second Degree Sexual Offense under North Carolina General Statute 14‑27.5(a).
Spell is a former deputy with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. Records show he was employed by the agency in 2025, but the alleged incident did not occur while he was on duty or acting in any official capacity. He resigned from the sheriff’s office on the day of his arrest in August 2026.
The victim’s name has been withheld. The case remains active, and no additional information is being released at this time.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, or abuse, help is available. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE, dial 9-1-1 and reach out to local resources through Brunswick County’s crisis support services.
All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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