Deputies arrested a registered sex offender with a concealed handgun in his truck Friday.
Hugo Alberto Bautista Gaspar, 40, with addresses in Riegelwood and Rose Hill was arrested on Old Stage Road. He was charged with two counts each of first degree sex offense with a child and sex offense by someone in a parental role; two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon; carrying a concealed weapon; possession of a stolen firearm; failure to register as a sex offender; ID card fraud, and failure to appear on a misdemeanor. Bond was set at $11,000, but Gaspar was held without bond due to the child sex offense warrants.
Gaspar was stopped on N.C. 87 (Old Stage Road) just after 8 p.m., according to reports. He was in possession of a Taurus 9mm handgun that had been stolen from Cindy Herrera of Riegelwood, according to warrants. Gaspar was wanted in New Hanover County for failure to appear on a charge of having an open container of beer in his vehicle.
Gaspar allegedly carried and used an identification card in the name of Darian Rodriguez, according to the warrant.
A records check showed that Gaspar was wanted for failure to register as a sex offender in Columbus County. He was also convicted of felony drug charges in Sampson County in 2009, and prohibited from possessing a firearm. At the time he was wanted on the sex charges for crimes that allegedly took place in 2008. Gaspar allegedly had sex with a girl under 13 years of age while acting in a parental role, according to warrants. The abuse happened at least twice, the warrants show.
