Man Sentenced to More Than 30 Years for Sexually Abusing a Special Needs Child

RALEIGH, N.C. - A federal judge sentenced David Leonard Mayes, 41, to over 30 years in prison for sexually abusing a special needs child. A federal jury found Mayes guilty in March 2026 of the aggravated sexual abuse of a minor while on a military base.

Mayes raped a nine-year-old disabled, nonverbal child while visiting her family on Camp Lejeune. The victim's mother arrived home early to find her daughter's door closed. Alarmed, she burst in and caught Mayes in flagrante, sexually assaulting her daughter. DNA testing confirmed Mayes abhorrent crimes.

"This monster preyed on the most vulnerable nine-year-old imaginable. He exploited his relationship with her mother to violate her in disgustingly inhuman ways. Rather than man-up and admit his heinous crime, he brought further trauma to the family by forcing them to recount what he did in public at trial. We will always fight to protect the heroes aboard Camp Lejeune and their mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives by stomping out spiders like this. The Court's sentence ensures this spider cannot hurt anyone else for 30 years," said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.

"The overwhelming forensic evidence secured by NCIS Special Agents left this predator with absolutely no place to hide, guaranteeing a swift conviction and a 30-year sentence, that removes a dangerous threat from the community," said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish of the NCIS Carolinas Field Office. "We have zero tolerance for those who prey upon children within our Navy and Marine Corps communities. This case demonstrates the relentless dedication of NCIS to uncover the truth, protect the vulnerable, and partner with the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure predators face the full weight of the law."

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. NCIS investigated the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North CarolinaLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-74.