James Patrick “Pat” McCormick will serve a minimum of 60 years in prison for raping a child in 2019.
Jury selection began yesterday in Columbus County Superior Court, and McCormick entered a guilty plea today (July 30), according to a press release from District Attorney Jon David. McCormick was arrested in 2020 after his victim was taken to Columbus Regional for treatment.
The girl, who was 11 at the time, had been raped repeatedly in Evergreen and at least one location in Bladen County, investigators said at the time. The abuse began in 2019, when she was ten. McCormick briefly fled from the area but was captured and returned.
Four years and one day after he was arrested, McCormick pleaded guilty to statutory rape and other crimes. Superior court Judge Robert Roupe sentenced McCormick to 360 to 492 months on one count, to be followed by 360 to 492 months on a second charge, or a minimum of 60 years in prison.
“At 34 years old and with a violent felony record,” David said in the press release, “the defendant’s sentence means the child victim and this community will be safe from the defendant for what will likely be the remainder of his life.”
David thanked the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, and Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center for their dedication to helping victims and their collaboration in the investigation of this case that spanned two counties.
“Our office will continue to seek justice and lengthy sentences for child predators who commit unspeakable acts of sexual abuse against innocent children,” he said.
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