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ATV park campers, staff help catch rape suspect

Deputies found a man suspected in the rape of a 15-year-old girl hiding underneath logs at an all-terrain-vehicle park, south of Goldsboro.

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Tony Burton Taylor
GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Deputies arrested a man for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl at an all-terrain-vehicle park at Busco Beach, south of Goldsboro, on Friday.

Tony Burton Taylor, 43, of 202 Walnut Drive in Kinston, faces one charge of first-degree rape.

Around 6 p.m., 911 callers reported that Taylor had raped a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint and was trying to leave the ATV park. Other callers said campers and park staff had located Taylor and were keeping an eye on him.

When deputies arrived, they found a large group of riders and staff surrounding some swampy woodland where they thought Taylor had gone. Deputies found Taylor hiding under some logs and partially submerged in water.

Taylor was being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $300,000 secured bond on Saturday morning.

Detective Keith Hartzog headed up the investigation that led to Taylor's arrest, and Sgt. Tammy Odom, Sgt. Robert Chun and patrol deputies assisted.

Taylor has been convicted as a habitual felon. He has a 25-year-long criminal record, including multiple convictions for breaking-and-entering, one for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, and two for escape from a correctional facility.

Taylor was arrested for felony breaking-and-entering in Lenoir County on May 28.

He was released from prison in May 2007 after serving nearly six years after a conviction as a habitual felon. His parole from that release expired April 22.

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