Topline: Prosecutors say the alleged assaults happened over multiple days while the woman was in custody at the Vance County Detention Center.
Published: April 16, 2026 8:02 am ET
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HENDERSON, NC — A former detention captain in Vance County is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he sexually assaulted a woman while she was in custody, according to court records and local officials.
Capt. Shannon Charles Holley, 54, was indicted by a Vance County grand jury following an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, according to WCTI.
He is charged with one count of second-degree forcible rape, three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, four counts of sexual act by a custodian and one count of assault on a female.
According to WRAL, Holley faces nine charges in total tied to allegations that he forced himself on an inmate at the Vance County Detention Center. Indictment documents obtained by WRAL Investigates allege Holley forced his tongue down the victim’s throat and raped her while she was in custody.
The alleged assaults occurred between Feb. 27 and March 6, according to court records cited by WTVD. The investigation began March 9 at the request of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame and District Attorney Mike Waters, and SBI agents spent weeks examining the claims before Holley was arrested, according to WCTI and WTVD.
Waters said investigators believe there were four separate incidents, according to WRAL.
“This is obviously very disturbing,” Waters said in a phone interview with WTVD.
Waters also addressed the credibility of the victim, saying “the fact that someone is in custody is not something that necessarily is going to impact their credibility or truthfulness.”
He added that investigators followed standard procedures in building the case. “The same types of steps that are taken in every case were taken by the SBI to evaluate the credibility of statements to corroborate facts and that kind of thing and conduct a thorough investigation,” Waters said.
Authorities say Holley was taken into custody and issued a $750,000 secured bond. He is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Vance County, according to WCTI and WTVD.
According to WRAL, there are no other known victims at this time, though the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be filed as new information emerges.
Sheriff Brame told WRAL that he requested the SBI investigation and reported Holley to the agency. Holley later resigned from his position, though officials have not confirmed exactly when that resignation took place, WRAL reported. Reporting from WTVD, citing the News & Observer, indicates Holley resigned March 21 after beginning work with the sheriff’s office in August.
State certification records show Holley previously worked as a detention officer with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and there are no records of prior charges or disciplinary actions tied to his certification, according to WRAL.
In a statement cited by WCTI, Waters thanked the victim for coming forward and praised the work of prosecutors and SBI agents involved in the case.
The charges come as the Vance County Detention Center has faced ongoing scrutiny. WRAL Investigates has previously reported on assaults at the jail in late 2022, and about a year ago the state ordered the facility to reduce its capacity due to inadequate staffing and unsafe conditions.
During a January meeting with county commissioners, Brame acknowledged the jail was “scrambling” and “hurting,” while also praising Holley’s work at the time, according to WRAL and WTVD.
“Captain Holley, who’s sitting here behind me, he’s my specialist at the jail. I was glad he came aboard to assist me in time of need. I think he’s doing a great job,” Brame said during that meeting, according to WTVD.
Holley also spoke at that meeting about his responsibilities at the jail.
“I simply run operations in the jail, and I make sure the inmates are safe,” he said.
Waters said the case will eventually be transferred to Vance County Superior Court, according to WRAL.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Jail Captain Accused of Raping Female Inmate Multiple Times
Prosecutors say the alleged assaults happened over multiple days while the woman was in custody at the Vance County Detention Center.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 16, 2026 8:02 am ET
HENDERSON, NC — A former detention captain in Vance County is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he sexually assaulted a woman while she was in custody, according to court records and local officials.
Capt. Shannon Charles Holley, 54, was indicted by a Vance County grand jury following an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, according to WCTI.
He is charged with one count of second-degree forcible rape, three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, four counts of sexual act by a custodian and one count of assault on a female.
According to WRAL, Holley faces nine charges in total tied to allegations that he forced himself on an inmate at the Vance County Detention Center. Indictment documents obtained by WRAL Investigates allege Holley forced his tongue down the victim’s throat and raped her while she was in custody.
The alleged assaults occurred between Feb. 27 and March 6, according to court records cited by WTVD. The investigation began March 9 at the request of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame and District Attorney Mike Waters, and SBI agents spent weeks examining the claims before Holley was arrested, according to WCTI and WTVD.
Waters said investigators believe there were four separate incidents, according to WRAL.
“This is obviously very disturbing,” Waters said in a phone interview with WTVD.
Waters also addressed the credibility of the victim, saying “the fact that someone is in custody is not something that necessarily is going to impact their credibility or truthfulness.”
He added that investigators followed standard procedures in building the case. “The same types of steps that are taken in every case were taken by the SBI to evaluate the credibility of statements to corroborate facts and that kind of thing and conduct a thorough investigation,” Waters said.
Authorities say Holley was taken into custody and issued a $750,000 secured bond. He is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Vance County, according to WCTI and WTVD.
According to WRAL, there are no other known victims at this time, though the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be filed as new information emerges.
Sheriff Brame told WRAL that he requested the SBI investigation and reported Holley to the agency. Holley later resigned from his position, though officials have not confirmed exactly when that resignation took place, WRAL reported. Reporting from WTVD, citing the News & Observer, indicates Holley resigned March 21 after beginning work with the sheriff’s office in August.
State certification records show Holley previously worked as a detention officer with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and there are no records of prior charges or disciplinary actions tied to his certification, according to WRAL.
In a statement cited by WCTI, Waters thanked the victim for coming forward and praised the work of prosecutors and SBI agents involved in the case.
The charges come as the Vance County Detention Center has faced ongoing scrutiny. WRAL Investigates has previously reported on assaults at the jail in late 2022, and about a year ago the state ordered the facility to reduce its capacity due to inadequate staffing and unsafe conditions.
During a January meeting with county commissioners, Brame acknowledged the jail was “scrambling” and “hurting,” while also praising Holley’s work at the time, according to WRAL and WTVD.
“Captain Holley, who’s sitting here behind me, he’s my specialist at the jail. I was glad he came aboard to assist me in time of need. I think he’s doing a great job,” Brame said during that meeting, according to WTVD.
Holley also spoke at that meeting about his responsibilities at the jail.
“I simply run operations in the jail, and I make sure the inmates are safe,” he said.
Waters said the case will eventually be transferred to Vance County Superior Court, according to WRAL.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Jail Captain Accused of Raping Female Inmate Multiple Times
Prosecutors say the alleged assaults happened over multiple days while the woman was in custody at the Vance County Detention Center.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 16, 2026 8:02 am ET
HENDERSON, NC — A former detention captain in Vance County is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he sexually assaulted a woman while she was in custody, according to court records and local officials.
Capt. Shannon Charles Holley, 54, was indicted by a Vance County grand jury following an investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation, according to WCTI.
He is charged with one count of second-degree forcible rape, three counts of second-degree forcible sexual offense, four counts of sexual act by a custodian and one count of assault on a female.
According to WRAL, Holley faces nine charges in total tied to allegations that he forced himself on an inmate at the Vance County Detention Center. Indictment documents obtained by WRAL Investigates allege Holley forced his tongue down the victim’s throat and raped her while she was in custody.
The alleged assaults occurred between Feb. 27 and March 6, according to court records cited by WTVD. The investigation began March 9 at the request of Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame and District Attorney Mike Waters, and SBI agents spent weeks examining the claims before Holley was arrested, according to WCTI and WTVD.
Waters said investigators believe there were four separate incidents, according to WRAL.
“This is obviously very disturbing,” Waters said in a phone interview with WTVD.
Waters also addressed the credibility of the victim, saying “the fact that someone is in custody is not something that necessarily is going to impact their credibility or truthfulness.”
He added that investigators followed standard procedures in building the case. “The same types of steps that are taken in every case were taken by the SBI to evaluate the credibility of statements to corroborate facts and that kind of thing and conduct a thorough investigation,” Waters said.
Authorities say Holley was taken into custody and issued a $750,000 secured bond. He is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday in Vance County, according to WCTI and WTVD.
According to WRAL, there are no other known victims at this time, though the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges could be filed as new information emerges.
Sheriff Brame told WRAL that he requested the SBI investigation and reported Holley to the agency. Holley later resigned from his position, though officials have not confirmed exactly when that resignation took place, WRAL reported. Reporting from WTVD, citing the News & Observer, indicates Holley resigned March 21 after beginning work with the sheriff’s office in August.
State certification records show Holley previously worked as a detention officer with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and there are no records of prior charges or disciplinary actions tied to his certification, according to WRAL.
In a statement cited by WCTI, Waters thanked the victim for coming forward and praised the work of prosecutors and SBI agents involved in the case.
The charges come as the Vance County Detention Center has faced ongoing scrutiny. WRAL Investigates has previously reported on assaults at the jail in late 2022, and about a year ago the state ordered the facility to reduce its capacity due to inadequate staffing and unsafe conditions.
During a January meeting with county commissioners, Brame acknowledged the jail was “scrambling” and “hurting,” while also praising Holley’s work at the time, according to WRAL and WTVD.
“Captain Holley, who’s sitting here behind me, he’s my specialist at the jail. I was glad he came aboard to assist me in time of need. I think he’s doing a great job,” Brame said during that meeting, according to WTVD.
Holley also spoke at that meeting about his responsibilities at the jail.
“I simply run operations in the jail, and I make sure the inmates are safe,” he said.
Waters said the case will eventually be transferred to Vance County Superior Court, according to WRAL.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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