Man tried to force 12-year-old baby-sitter to have sex

A 40-year-old Wilmington man pleaded guilty in New Hanover County Superior Court on Monday to trying to force his underage baby-sitter to have sex.

Christopher James Adams will serve between nine and 11 and a half years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree rape of a child and two counts of attempted first-degree sex offense with a victim who was 12 years old, said Connie Jordan, a New Hanover County assistant district attorney.

Jordan described Adams’ offenses as a “real abuse of trust.” He tried to have sex with her in July 2007 when the girl used to babysit his 5-year-old child, Jordan said.

Adams initially was charged with two counts each of first-degree rape and first-degree sex offense. The plea agreement “allowed our victim to not have to testify,” Jordan said.

– Veronica Gonzalez