Registered Sex Offender arrested for Kidnapping and Rape

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 September 23rd, 2016 arrest of 32-year-old Jonathan Ervin Kisselburg who gave a Murphy, North Carolina address on charges involving allegations of kidnapping and rape.

On July 1, 2016 the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an adult female who had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted.

During the investigation, Kisselburg, a registered sex offender, was identified as a suspect in the investigation. The investigation was then presented to the September setting of the Cherokee County Grand Jury who handed down indictments for First Degree Kidnapping and Second Degree Forcible Rape.

Kisselburg was arrested on the indictments and is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center under a $150,000 secure bond.

Kisselburg is expected to be in Cherokee County Superior Court on November 7th, 2016.

Because of the sensitive nature of the crime reported, no further press releases will be made concerning this case.

Sheriff Palmer stated, “Again, we see the importance of the sex offender registry laws. I am glad to see that our state has tightened up some loopholes. As always we are not able to do the job alone and are appreciative of the public’s assistance in keeping our community safe.”

Sheriff Palmer encourages anyone that has information on this crime or any other to report it. To report crime in Cherokee County you can call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

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