NEWS RELEASE
Date/Time of Offense: April 1st, 2021 – May 31st, 2021, June 2018 – February 2019
Offense(s)/Charge(s): Felony Human Trafficking (Two Counts)
Felony Statutory Rape of a Minor 15 years old or less
Felony Kidnapping and Felony Stalking
Felony Sexual Activity by a Substitute Parent (Six Counts)
Location of Incident: Southeast area of Iredell County
Suspect(s): William Joshua Byard, 30 years old,
130 Calhoun Road
Stony Point, NC 28678
Sheriff Darren Campbell stated on September 12th 2021, a report was filed with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office in regards to two females being sexually assaulted by William Joshua Byard. The case was assigned to Detective Sergeant K. Campbell of the Special Victim’s Unit. One of the victims is a minor and disclosed during her interview that she was sexually assaulted and identified William Joshua Byard as the suspect. The second victim was interviewed and she also reported having been sexually assaulted by Byard.
Based on evidence and statements gathered throughout the investigation Detective Campbell obtained warrants on Byard for two counts of Human Trafficking, Felony Statutory Rape of a Minor 15 years old or less, and Felony Kidnapping.
During the investigation Detective Campbell also discovered that Byard had violated a domestic violence protection order during the act of committing the following offenses. Due to Byard violating the Domestic Violence Protection Order and having already been convicted for violating the protection order in the past Detective Campbell obtained another charge on Byard for Felony Stalking.
Byard was served these warrants on November 10th 2021 at the Iredell County Detention Center where he was already being held on unrelated charges. Byard was taken before Magistrate H. Callejas where he was given a $1,000,000.00 secure bond.
While investigating this case Detective Campbell discovered new evidence of a crime against Byard that was first reported on October 31 2019. Detective Campbell found that the case from 2019 was closed due to the victim not being prepared to speak about the allegations made against Byard.
Detective Campbell located the victim of the previous case who was now an adult and was able to conduct an interview at this time. Evidence was discovered that corroborated details provided by the victim in this interview. Based on the evidence obtained throughout this investigation Detective Campbell obtained six felony charges on Byard for Felony Sexual Activity by a Substitute Parent.
On November 13th 2021 Byard was taken before Magistrate Thompson at the Iredell County Detention Center where he received an additional $300,000.00 secured bond bringing his new bond $1,300,000.00 secured on the following offenses: Felony Human Trafficking (Two Counts), Felony Statutory Rape of a Minor 15 years old or less, Felony Kidnapping and Felony Stalking, and Felony Sexual Activity by a Substitute Parent (Six Counts)
Byard has been convicted of the following crimes: Three separate convictions for Violation of a Domestic Violence Protection Order; Felony Stalking; Assault on a Female; Second Degree Trespassing; two separate convictions of Simple Assault, two convictions of Injury to Personal Property, Simple Possession of Schedule VI, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting a Public Officer, Breaking and Entering and two convictions of Larceny.