Marcus Golston - Repeat Sex Offender - Failed to Register then raped an 8 year old

A Leland man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Brunswick County Superior Court to raping an 8-year-old-girl and failing to register as a sex offender.

Marcus Golston, who is in his late 30s, pleaded guilty to second-degree rape and was sentenced to nine and a half to 12 years in prison, Assistant District Attorney Meredith Everhart said.

Golston also pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender.

He will now be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to GPS satellite monitoring for the rest of his life, Everhart said.

The incident with the child occurred in Leland from January to March in 2007.

This was not Golston's first sex offense.

He was dishonorably discharged from the military for sex offense with a girl under the age of 16 in 1996, Everhart said.

He served seven years in a military prison for that charge before moving to New Hanover County then to Brunswick County, where he failed to register as a sex offender.

"He was never on our grid," Everhart said, noting Golston lived in the area for four or five years without anyone knowing he needed to be registered as a sex offender.

Everhart said the registration allows law enforcement to monitor sex offenders.

"We can make sure that they are not in a position to be around young children," she said.

Part of the requirement for registered sex offender is that they are not allowed to have anyone under the age of 18 in their home.

The incident with the 8-year-old occurred at Golston's residence.

"Maybe it could have prevented her from being there in the first place," Everhart said

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

.........Sarah Tofte