Bob Clay "Bobby" Gober Jr - Repeat Sex Offender

When statutory rape....isn't really statutory rape

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
..... Sarah Tofte

Bob Clay "Bobby" Gober Jr., 22, was sentenced Monday in the Haywood county Superior Court to serve a minimum of 20 years, 1 month in prison for crimes against a teenaged girl.

Gober pleaded guilty to four felonies, two counts of attempted statutory rape of a minor, attempted statutory sexual offense of a minor and indecent liberties. Superior Court Judge Ronald Payne imposed the sentence, which carries a maximum sentence of 24 years, 11 months.

Gober, a Buncombe County man, had previous convictions in Buncombe County for felonious restraint and failing to register as a sex offender.

“I personally prepared for this case for trial with my assistant district attorney Jim Moore,” District Attorney Mike Bonfoey said. “I worked closely with the victim, her family and the investigating officer in preparing the evidence and the young witness for trial. The investigating officer, Det. Heidi Van Dine of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, did excellent police work in working this case.”

The crimes were committed by Gober in February of 2007. He was arrested in April after fleeing North Carolina and being caught in South Carolina.

In December 2006 Gober was released from the N.C. Department of Corrections after completing a short prison sentence for his Buncombe County crimes. Within a month of being released, Gober befriended the family of the victim. Shortly thereafter, Gober made romantic advances toward the victim, who was 13 at the time, by kissing her. The victim’s family discovered Gober’s advances and told him his actions were inappropriate. The victim’s family also told him to stay away from their daughter and their home.

Gober secretly continued to pursue the teenager and he increased his pressure on her to submit to his sexual advances. On at least four occasions in February 2007, Gober committed his crimes with the victim. Gober deceived the victim into thinking that he and she would run away and get married. The family of the victim discovered the crimes only after the victim told her parents of the events.

Van Dine began an investigation, during which Gober confessed to his crimes and admitted that he was “attracted to younger girls.” The victim of his crime in Buncombe County was also a teenaged female.

“The evidence against Gober was strong,” Bonfoey said. “It is great when the investigation is done well, the victim is cooperative and the evidence is strong. My office is pleased with the length of the sentence.

“Sexual predators and child molesters should be in prison in order for our children and our communities to be kept safe.”