A Sherrills Ford man has pleaded guilty to three counts of forcible sex offense. The Mooresville Police Department reports that its officers responded to a sexual assault at 1459 River Highway on June 19, 2022.

The victim informed authorities that she met the suspect online and agreed to meet him in Mooresville on June 16. The victim got into the suspect’s vehicle and was taken to a remote parking lot at 1459 River Highway where she was forcibly sexually assaulted.

The suspect left the victim in the parking lot without her vehicle or phone following the assault. MPD detectives identified the suspect as 31-year-old Michael Brandon Shinn of Sherrills Ford.

Detectives learned that the suspect was targeting women online and may be involved in similar incidents in other jurisdictions. Shinn was ultimately charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Forcible Rape and one count of 2nd Degree Forcible Sex Offense.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office brought additional charges of two counts of 1st Degree Sex Offense and two counts of 2nd Degree Kidnapping. On July 23, 2024, Shinn took an Alford Plea to three counts of 2nd Degree Forcible Offense.

Shinn was sentenced to 50 to 120 months, sex offender registration for 20 years, and permanent no-contact orders with the three victims. After he’s released, Shinn will be on probation for ten years.