Murphy couple arrested for sexual assualts involving minor

NOTE:  The original press release has been updated to include the arrest of a third individual.

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the February 13th, 2015 arrest of 34-year-old Charleston Ray Waldroup and 26-year-old Mary Martha Rankin and the February 14th arrest of 54-year-old Ricky Tex Waldroup, all of Murphy, North Carolina for sexual assault charges involving a minor child.

Mary Rankin was arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on charges of FELONY CHILD ABUSE-PROSTITUTION, FELONY CHILD ABUSE-SEXUAL ACT, DISSEMINATE OBSCENE MATERIAL TO MINOR UNDER 16. The Cherokee County Magistrate set a $750,000.00 secure bond. Rankin is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on February 24th, 2016. Rankin is currently still incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Charleston Ray Waldroup was arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on Charges of FELONY INCEST, FIRST DEGREE RAPE OF A CHILD, FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL OFFENSE, and was set a $1,000.000.00 secure bond. Charleston Waldroup is also expected to appear in Cherokee County District Court February 24th, 2016. Charleston Waldroup is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center.

Ricky Tex Waldroup was arrested and booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on Charges of FELONY INCEST, FIRST DEGREE RAPE OF A CHILD, 2 counts of FIRST DEGREE SEXUAL OFFENSE, and was set a $1,000.000.00 secure bond. Ricky Waldroup is also expected to appear in Cherokee County District Court February 24th, 2016. Ricky Waldroup is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center. Based upon the age of the victim and the sensitive nature of the case, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office will not be releasing any additional information concerning this incident at this time.