Clinton police detectives are investigating a reported sexual assault against a 5-year-old child that allegedly took place earlier this month.

The mother of the 5-year-old female reported the incident around 6 p.m. Monday.

According to those reports, she told investigators she had noticed that something had been wrong with her daughter for the past few weeks. After the woman talked to the youngster, she discovered that while the 5-year-old was visiting a close friend on July 9, the younger brother of that friend allegedly took the child by the hand and led her to his room. The report notes that once in the room, the suspect allegedly exposed himself and told the child to touch his private parts. He then told the child to sit on his lap.

The day after hearing the story, the woman took the child to see a doctor. The doctor informed the Sampson County Department of Social Services and tests revealed there had been no sexual intercourse.

However, the woman noticed that since the incident that the child had been withdrawn, sitting in awkward positions and, at times, rubbing her private areas.

The woman said that, as of Tuesday, she had not heard from DSS officials and was afraid to have them contact the suspect’s family about the incident because the person in question was currently out of the country.

No arrests have been made in this incident, however, an investigation is ongoing.

According to the United States Department of Justice, 60 percent of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police, according to a statistical average of the past five years.

The State Bureau of Investigation notes that in 2009, 21.5 percent of the victims of sexual assault were under age 14.

If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected, or if you think a child may have died from being mistreated, you must report what you know to the county Department of Social Services, according to state law ( N.C.G.S. § 7B-301). As long as you are acting in good faith, you cannot be held liable.

To report an incident call the Sampson County Department of Social Services at 910-592-7131 or call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (a National Child Abuse Hotline).

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.