A 30-year-old employee at a youth group home in Angier was arrested this month and is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old foster resident, with authorities alleging the assaults took place inside the home between April and June 2025.
Johnston County’s inmate roster lists Marcus Bowser as having been booked on April 15, 2026, according to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. The county listing shows a primary charge described as “statutory sexual offense with child <=15” and indicates Bowser is in local custody while prosecutors move the case forward.
Charges Filed and What Authorities Say
Court documents and local reporting list 16 felony counts tied to four alleged incidents, including four counts each of statutory sexual offense with a child, indecent liberties with a child, sex act by a private‑institution employee and sexual servitude of a child victim, as reported by WRAL. Investigators say the alleged conduct occurred while Bowser was working at the Angier home. Prosecutors have not released the full charging package, and Bowser is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Facility and Oversight
The group home involved is operated under United Family Network; state records show a licensed site listed as “United Family Network at Ridge Road” in Angier. The facility appears on the public roster maintained by the NC Division of Health Service Regulation, which oversees licensure for mental-health and residential providers that serve juveniles.
Legal Implications
Indecent-liberties and statutory-sex offenses are felony crimes under North Carolina law, and penalties vary based on the specific statute and the victim’s age. For statutory language and sentencing ranges, see the North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 14.
Investigation Timeline
Local reports say the teen went to police in June 2025, and investigators spent months developing the case before Bowser’s April 15, 2026, arrest. WRAL reported that Bowser had been on staff only a short time at the home and was removed from the job when the allegations surfaced.
Context and Resources
North Carolina uses multidisciplinary responses that involve law enforcement, child-protective services and Children’s Advocacy Centers for allegations of child sexual abuse, and those centers provide forensic interviews, medical exams and victim support. For local victim services and reporting resources, see Children’s Advocacy Centers of North Carolina…