Brunswick County man pleads to child abuse charge

Nov. 26--BOLIVIA -- A Brunswick County man pleaded guilty Monday to abusing his young daughter in Ocean Isle Beach.

James Christopher Fulford, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of felony child abuse in Brunswick County Superior Court. Fulford took a plea deal that meant an additional charge of indecent liberties with a child was dismissed.

Fulford was arrested in June 2017 on the indecent liberties charge.

According to Jenna Earley, a Brunswick County assistant district attorney, Fulford's 12-year-old biological daughter had been staying with him that month. One evening, Fulford ingested two bags of heroin and got into bed with the girl, Earley said.

Earley said that the child awoke to find her father kissing and touching her inappropriately. The girl later underwent a forensic examination at The Carousel Center in Wilmington.

The StarNews does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The girl told investigators after the incident that, "everything used to be all about rainbows and puppies -- not anymore," Earley told the court Monday.

Fulford received a suspended sentence of between 8 and 19 months. He will be placed on supervised probation for two years and will not be allowed contact with children under the age of 18.

Reporter Cammie Bellamy can be reached at Cammie.Bellamy@StarNewsOnline.com.

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