WSOC TV – by Ken Lemon, Tina Terry
LOWELL, N.C. – A Lowell police officer pleaded guilty Thursday after impregnating a 14-year-old girl.
James Blair will spend up to 19 years in prison for statutory rape. He will also have to wear an ankle monitor for the rest of his life as well as register as a sex offender.
The 14-year-old’s mother was in the courtroom during the plea and sentencing. She spoke out after court, but Channel 9 is not identifying her or showing her face in order to protect her daughter.
“I’m happy with what happened in there, because he kept contacting my daughter through jail,” the mother said.
She said it has been a tough year for her family after she told Channel 9 that Blair volunteered to mentor her daughter, but eventually she learned he’d had inappropriate contact with her daughter in his police car and at his home.
“My daughter is going through so much she’s really hurt. He manipulated my daughter, he manipulated my family,” she said. “My family is upside down but we’re trying to pick up the pieces and trying to move on.”
(Click PLAY to hear raw interview from teen’s mother after court)
She is working to forgive Blair, and she’s preparing to welcome the baby.
“My heart is so broken. We got this new baby coming. I’m going to love this baby,” the mother said.
She believes Blair may have done the same thing to others while working with police.
“In my heart, I know there’s other victims,” the mother said. “Please come forth so we can put an end to all of this.”
Text messages led to officer’s arrest
Channel 9 reporter Ken Lemon broke the story in September on Twitter.
Blair was taken into custody after being arrested at the teen’s house. SBI agents were there talking to the family when Blair showed up, officials said.
Blair was charged with one count of statutory rape and more charges will follow, officials said. His bond was set at $1 million.
“My heart was broken,” the girl’s mother told Channel 9 after Blair was charged.
She said Blair volunteered to mentor her children. She said she was reluctant at first, but then agreed to it because he was a police officer.
Blair and the woman’s daughter had been texting on her phone, the mother said.
She said she then discovered text messages indicating that he took advantage of her daughter.
“He tore my life apart,” the mother said.
She said the veteran officer came to her home asking to connect with her 14-year-old daughter, who had run away before, and her sibling.
“To show them, ‘Hey, policemen are good,’” the mother said.
Blair would visit often and even took them on a trip.
Then the mother discovered text messages that indicated her daughter was pregnant and that Blair was the father.
One of messages, which was in the hands of the SBI, states, “If you keep that baby I’m done and you know it.”
Another said, “Do whatever you wanna do, just remember I love you and name it after me.”
She went to Gaston County police and they contacted the district attorney. He asked the SBI to investigate.
“I did meet with him. I told him how bad he broke my heart. How he betrayed my family,” the mother said.
She said Blair had inappropriate contact with her daughter at his home and in his patrol car, and told Channel 9 that he confessed to her.
“He told me he took her virginity. He told me it was his baby. He told me things happened and he said he was so sorry. And he kept saying, ‘Please forgive him,’” she said.
She said then Blair asked her to do something that she considered unimaginable.
“‘Get rid of the baby or I’ve lost my life. I’ve lost my life.’ How do I kill a baby? I don’t kill no baby. I don’t believe in abortion,” the mother said.
Blair has been on medical leave for the past 80 days, which started before the investigation began.
The girl’s mother said she may not have known what was going on if she didn’t read it on her phone.
Isn’t this how they become Senators , Mayors and Prosecutors?
Oh and probably Judges and heads of state right up to the highest in power ,comes the pedophile
*** She said Blair volunteered to mentor her children. She said she was reluctant at first, but then agreed to it because he was a police officer. ***
Hopefully her terrible mistake will help others to shed the ignorant and dangerous view that police are good and trustworthy.
Police in the US are among the very lowest forms of life on earth. They’re underhanded, selfish, cowardly, and dishonest. They’re hypocrites and “cry-bullies.”
We’re talking about a class of people who VOLUNTEERED to arrest people for victimless acts. What kind of creature would be able to sleep at night after putting people in jail for smoking pot or selling it to an adult friend? Or how about arresting people for prostitution? It’s legally acceptable to be a total slut and let hundreds of men bang you for free, but as soon as you accept money for it, suddenly it becomes criminal?
The kind of asshole who’s willing to enforce such ridiculous, tyrannical laws is the kind of asshole who would knock up a teenager.
I used to work as a police dispatcher. I have first hand experience how the cops prey on girls and women. It happened to me repeatedly. The problem with girls is they are young and dumb. The parents should have known better and why weren’t they doing their job and raising their own damn kids. I blame the parents for this kid getting knocked up and they should adopt the baby and let their daughter have a life.
I know one cop years ago who had three pregnant women at the same time. One of them was dumb enough to marry him.
There was an Elko NV police captain that got busted 4 years ago molesting a young relative.
Then got popped robbing mine equipment at the sites.
He just got out and there was an article on him about a month ago in the Elkodaily.com
Its systemic….even in small towns.
OK Jimmy it’s time to hit the showers, leave the soap in your cell.
Reprobate.