Decatur police: Sex offender gropes girl, vows to return to scene of abuse
Dec. 1 — A Courtland sex offender who allegedly unlawfully resided in Decatur was arrested on Wednesday for groping a 13-year-old girl at his wife’s Decatur home. In a phone call from jail, he vowed to return to the scene of the abuse. As a result, a judge ordered him to wear an ankle monitor if he makes bond.
Starsky Vashan King, 47, faces charges of violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) after Decatur police responded to his wife’s residence on Robinhood Way Southwest. The incident occurred on July 1, according to an affidavit by Detective Jodie Fuller.
During their investigation, officers discovered that King had stayed overnight at the residence with a 13-year-old girl who was not related to him. King is a registered sex offender due to a prior conviction of second-degree rape in 2009.
Following his initial arrest, King was released on a $2,500 bond. However, on Wednesday, he turned himself in to his parole officer and was arrested once again. He now faces two additional SORNA violations and a charge of second-degree sexual abuse related to the alleged groping incident.
According to Fuller’s affidavit, the victim was staying at a friend’s house in Decatur when King woke her up in the middle of the night by rubbing her leg. He then instructed her to go into the kitchen, where he asked if she had ever had sex before and told her to remove her clothes and show him her buttocks. When the victim refused, King allegedly grabbed and squeezed her buttocks. The victim managed to lock herself in an upstairs bedroom and called her parents.
Fuller’s investigation revealed that King had not been residing at his registered address in Courtland and had failed to report a change of address to authorities. Moreover, his wife’s home, where the offenses occurred, is situated within 2,000 feet of multiple child care facilities.
During phone calls made from jail, King expressed his intent to return to his wife’s home. As a result, the prosecution requested that he be ordered to pretrial supervision with a GPS ankle monitor. The judge granted this motion, along with a prohibition on King going near his wife’s home or having any contact with the victim.
King is currently held in jail with a bond set at $150,000.
It should be noted that King has a history of similar offenses. In 2008, he was charged with raping a 14-year-old girl in Courtland. He was convicted of second-degree rape and served time in prison until his release on parole in 2018.
The Decatur Police Department emphasizes the importance of reporting any incidents involving King or any other individuals suspected of committing sexual offenses. They urge residents to remain vigilant and prioritize the safety of children in the community.
The case against King is pending, and the additional charges he faces will be presented to a grand jury.
