Deputy out of jail on bond following sex-crime charges

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A Cleveland County sheriff's deputy is out of jail on bond after being charged with a sex crime.

John Franklin Robbins, 24, is charged with crimes against nature.

An arrest warrant obtained by Channel 9 said Robbins was involved in a sex act with an unnamed woman on Nov. 4.

A complaint came to the sheriff's office almost three weeks later, and Robbins was fired on the 27th following an internal investigation.

He was arrested Monday, and charged with a felony, then released on $10,000 bond.

Cleveland County Sheriff Alan Norman would not speak with Channel 9 on Tuesday about the incident. However, he did an interview with our newspaper partner, the Shelby Star.

Here is part of his response to what happened.

"It's unfortunate that situations like this occur, but employees of the sheriff's office are held to higher standards, it's something that we, the administration of the sheriff's office, try to instill...along with the highest standard of professionalism and moral character," said Norman.

Robbins had been a Cleveland County Sheriff's Deputy only since August.

A family member told us he has a wife and a child.

Channel 9 tried to speak with Robbins' relatives about the incident and the loss of his job.

They did not want to comment.

WSOC