On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, KPD Officers responded to a residence in regards to a sexual assault of a minor that occurred previously. Kinston Police Detectives conducted an investigation and obtained warrants on Tony Gooding (42 of Kinston) for Indecent Liberties with a Child. 

On Monday, July 1, 2024, Gooding was scheduled to appear in court on a unrelated incident. Detectives coordinated with the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office and Gooding was taken into custody. Gooding was placed in the LC Jail under a secured bond. 

The Kinston Police Department places the highest priority on investigating crimes of violence perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases with no compromise for crime, and continue to seek assistance from the community we proudly serve. If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020 or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444. Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.