Girl ‘under 15’ gives birth, leading to arrest of 27-year-old man, NC police say

A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a girl “under 15” who gave birth in 2025, according investigators in North Carolina.

Jahmel Raemone Kegler is being held without bond on charges of statutory rape of a child under 15 years of age and indecent liberties with a child, the Southern Pines Police Department reported in a March 5 news release.

Court documents indicate the offenses began in December 2024 and came to light after the girl gave birth.

“On October 7, 2025, it was reported by the Department of Social Services to the Southern Pines Police Department that Jahmel Raemone Kegler had an ongoing sexual relationship with a juvenile who he was alleged to have impregnated,” police said.

“Further investigation revealed ... Kegler already had one child with the juvenile who was 3 months old at the time of the report.”

He was located and arrested March 4 “without incident” at a home in Spring Lake, about a 30-mile drive east from Southern Pines, officials said.

Investigators did not release details of how he met the victim.

Southern Pines is about a 70-mile drive southwest from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 2:10 PM with the headline "Girl ‘under 15’ gives birth, leading to arrest of 27-year-old man, NC police say."