IFN Staff
Two people suspected of helping a registered sex offender who had active arrest warrants avoid apprehension face felony charges in Iredell County.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrests of Stephanie Darlene Cruz, 40, of Winding Cedar Drive, Statesville, and Daniel Lee Busque, 48, of North Barkley Road, Statesville, in a news release on Friday.
They face charges in connection with the ICSO’s efforts to apprehend registered sex offender Justin Michael Spradling, 43, of Yellowstone Lane, Statesville, Campbell said.
ICSO Special Victims Unit detectives arrested Spradling on January 20 on several outstanding warrants. He faces multiple felony charges, including failing to report a new address, being present near a child-related location, violating sex offender residency requirements, and violating probation. Spradling was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he is being held under a $250,000 secured bond.
According to Sheriff Campbell, Spradling had been actively avoiding law enforcement since October 25, when he was seen in the parking lot of a church that also operates as a childcare center. Despite ongoing efforts by detectives to locate him, he continued to evade arrest until January 20, Campbell said.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Cruz and Busque individuals knowingly helped Spradling avoid arrest, despite being aware of his outstanding warrants and his status as a registered sex offender, according to the news release.
Both were arrested and charged with felony offenses for assisting in a sex offender’s failure to comply with the law.
At the time of her arrest, Cruz was also found to be carrying a concealed handgun. She was charged with misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon and received an $8,000 secured bond.
Busque was issued a $5,000 secured bond.
The Sheriff’s Office, in the news release, stressed that deputies and detectives will actively search for wanted individuals, particularly those who pose a risk to public safety. Anyone who attempts to hide, assist, or delay the arrest of a wanted person will be investigated and charged accordingly.