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A girl reported being sexually assaulted in 2014. Charlotte police say the suspect is now in custody

He was previously serving prison time for unrelated charges. Upon his release, he was transferred to the Mecklenburg County jail.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than nine years after a girl reported being sexually assaulted, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said the suspect now faces charges.

CMPD shared information in a news release on Thursday According to the department, the then-13-year-old victim made the report on Aug. 13, 2014, along Shamrock Drive near Eastway Drive. She was taken to a nearby hospital where a sexual assault was collected.

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The department said its cold-case unit was able to identify Travon Levi Woods, now age 33, as the suspect in 2016. The identification was made by matching DNA in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Woods was serving time on unrelated charges at the time at the Alexander Correctional Institute in Taylorsville.

Credit: Mecklenburg County Detention Center
Travon Levi Woods

When Woods was released from prison on Oct. 4, 2023, CMPD said he was then taken to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center and served his new warrants. He is now charged with statutory rape, two counts of statutory sex offense, and four counts of indecent liberties with a minor.

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The victim was notified of Woods' arrest.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who can provide further information is asked to call 704-432-TIPS to talk with a detective directly. Anonymous tips can also be shared online with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers or by calling 704-334-1600.

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