LUMBERTON — The case against a Lumberton man who was charged Monday in a series of rapes and an armed robbery remains active, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said Tuesday.
Jonathan Candelaria, 24, of Candor Drive, was arrested at his residence by officers with the Criminal Investigations Division, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with three counts of first-degree forcible sex offense, two counts of second-degree rape, second-degree forcible sex offense, four counts of first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon and common law robbery.
Candelaria was jailed under a $3 million secured bond.
Detectives collected a DNA sample from Candelaria after securing warrants for his arrest, Wilkins said. The Sheriff’s Office had Candelaria’s fingerprints on file from previous arrests, but no DNA.
“We are now attempting to link him to other reported and possibly unreported assaults as we await any potential CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) hits on the now received DNA,” the sheriff said. “We are requesting that any potential victim of this suspect to come forward now.”
Potential victims are asked to call 910-671-3100 or 910-671-3170.
“This has been a disturbing investigation and I applaud the victims for coming forward with their information,” Wilkins said.
The charges against Candelaria are in relation to assaults in August in Maxton, on Sept. 21 in Lumberton, Oct. 7 in Fairmont and March 15 in Lumberton.
Sheriff’s investigators worked for months to identify Candelaria using information provided by victims, Wilkins said. Surveillance footage from a local business showed a person that matched his description. Victims also identified him in a photo lineup.
“This was a case of great investigative work by seasoned detectives and even though it took a few months to compile the evidence as to who the suspect was, victims in this case were instrumental in providing enough pertinent information to bring him to justice now,” Wilkins said.
“No woman should have to experience what these ladies did regardless of their circumstances. Excuses were offered by the suspect but there are no excuses for such despicable actions,” he said.
Candelaria has been locked up at the Robeson County Detention Center on three other occasions. Each time he met the conditions of his bond and was released the same day he was charged.
His criminal history began in August 2015, when he was charged with felony robbery with a firearm and placed under a $10,000 secured bond at the Robeson County jail.
He was jailed again in January 2017 and charged with carry/conceal weapon, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia and was placed under a $2,000 bond.
Candelaria was charged in May 2019 with two counts of felony larceny, two counts of conspiracy to commit felony larceny and obtaining property by false pretense. Candelaria was placed under a $5,000 secured bond.
