Beech Mountain

man charged

in sexual assault

A Beech Mountain man remains in custody after the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office received a report alleging two juveniles had been sexually assaulted and touched inappropriately.

The report was made on Dec. 31 and an investigation into the incident was launched.

On Jan. 3, William Joseph Hopkins, 24, of 417 Charter Hills Road, Beech Mountain, was arrested.

Hopkins has been charged with first degree rape of a child, statutory rape of a child between the ages of 13 to 15 years of age, and two counts of first degree sex offense with a child.

Hopkins is scheduled to appear in district court on Jan. 22 in lieu of a $400,000 secured bond.

— Melanie Davis, staff writer