Randolph Rael - RAPED 4 year old boy - being released from prison

A Jacksonville man sent to prison for life in 1987 for raping a 4-year-old boy is set to go free by Monday.

Randolph Rael, 51, currently lodged in Buncombe Correctional Center in Asheville, was convicted of crimes against nature, taking indecent liberties with a child, and first-degree sex offense. He was remanded to the N.C. Department of Correction for the remainder of his life.

The Parole Commission sent a letter in mid-May to the Beaufort County District Attorney's Office with notice of Rael's approaching release. The letter was forwarded to Onslow County Chief Assistant District Attorney Ernie Lee.

"The actions of this defendant ... are reprehensible," Lee wrote in a letter to the Parole Commission objecting to Rael's early release.

Lee wrote that he has "concerns for the safety of the public, particularly children, when sexual offenders are released."

On July 4, 1986, Rael "showed the victim movies and magazines containing photos of naked men and women," according to the court file. He forced the 4-year-old boy to perform oral sex on him, and then performed oral sex on the boy. Rael then raped the boy, court records state.

The boy told his mother what happened afterward and Rael was arrested after an investigation.

Rael has been paroled and is set to be released from prison before Monday, according to a letter from the N.C. Post Release Supervision and Parole Commission.

After his release, Rael will be "under the supervision of a parole officer through the division of community corrections," according to the Parole Commission.

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