Sexual predator faces new charge after arrest

ROANOKE RAPIDS — A convicted sexual predator was charged yesterday with

one count of statutory sex offense with a juvenile female, according to

the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.

Chief Jeff Hinton said Anthony Oneil Burns, 44, was jailed on $1

million bond and has an Aug. 26 court date.

The alleged offense occurred over the weekend, Hinton said. It is not

clear how Burns, who is registered as a sexual predator, came in

contact with the girl.

Hinton said it was unknown how long Burns was in Roanoke Rapids.

He registered as a sex offender on Jan. 22, 2008.According to the

National Sexual Offender Registry, Burns’ residence was last verified

on April 20 as the Union Mission.  Burns had completed the residency

program at the Union Mission, according to Mission officials. For the

past several months, he had been employed as the Mission’s thrift store

manager in Enfield.

Burns was convicted Sept. 10, 1998, in Rockingham County of attempted

rape and attempted sex offense and second-degree sex offense for

offenses occurring in May of 1997. He was released from prison on Jan.

20, 2008, according to the Registry.