Marine recruiter arrested after allegations of sexual assault

SALISBURY, N.C. — A Marine recruiter based in Salisbury was arrested Saturday after allegations he sexually assaulted two young female recruits.

Investigators from the Rowan County Sheriff's Office and Salisbury Police Department began a joint investigation Thursday into the complaints.

Investigators discovered the alleged assaults occurred at the Salisbury Marine Recruiting Office on Arlington Street in Salisbury and at the suspect's apartment on Grandeur Drive, off Julian Road. The suspect was identified as 24-year-old Marine Sgt. Derek Craig Percival.

Rowan County Sheriff's Office and Salisbury Police detectives continued the investigation on Friday and made contact with USMC authorities about the allegations.

Percival met the two victims through his Marine recruiter duties.

On Saturday, detectives from both agencies responded to Percival's apartment, at 6206 Grandeur Drive, and met with him. Following this interview, Percival was arrested and charged with two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery, one count of false imprisonment and one count of communicating threats as well as the felony charges of one count of sexual servitude and one count of attempted second-degree rape.

Percival was placed under a $100,000 secured bond in the Rowan County Detention Center. The Marines were notified of the investigation and arrest, and they have notified their own investigators.

Anyone having further information regarding these investigations should contact investigators at the either the Rowan County Sheriff's Office or the Salisbury Police Department.

WSOC