Fayetteville police captain charged with felonies involving sex offender husband
News About Sex Offenders
A Fayetteville police captain was charged Thursday with three felony counts of failing to notify law enforcement that her husband, a registered sex offender, attended events that were banned to him under state law.
Arrest warrants show that Capt. Tracey Bass-Caine is accused of failing to report that William Augurson Jr. attended three prohibited events since February, which she attended, too: Cross Creek Got Talent at the Westover Recreation Center on Aug. 10, an awards ceremony at Village Baptist Church on May 18, and an event at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden on Feb. 25.
The talent event at the recreation center was intended for children in elementary through high school. The church houses Village Baptist Christian Academy, a private school for children. The Botanical Garden hosted Jack and Jill of America, “an event intended primarily for minors,” according to the arrest warrants.
State law specifies that sex offenders cannot come within “300 feet of any location intended primarily for the use, care, or supervision of minors.”
The law also says that a law enforcement officer who becomes aware of a violation by a sex offender is required to “immediately arrest the person” or seek an order for the arrest.
Bass-Caine has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation, the Police Department said Thursday afternoon. She was released on $30,000 bail after turning herself in.
Police Chief Gina Hawkins, who was hired this summer, said she learned only recently that Bass-Caine’s husband was a registered sex offender. Hawkins said Bass-Caine was then told that her husband was not allowed to attend events sponsored by the Police Department.
Bass-Caine was assigned as the Cross Creek patrol district captain, which oversees day-to-day patrol functions for the western portion of the city, Hawkins said.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, which filed the charges against Bass-Caine and Augurson, is also investigating a Halloween event. Hawkins said Bass-Caine held a Halloween event at the Cross Creek station on Oct. 13, but she did not know whether Augurson attended the event.
Sheriff’s Lt. Sean Swain said Augurson turned himself in to face three charges of violating the sex offender law by going to places where he was banned. His bail was set at $30,000.
The North Carolina sex offender registry shows that Augurson was convicted in another state in 2009 for a sexual offense involving a 12-year-old. Augurson was 38 at the time. He’s 47 now.
Bass-Caine, 50, was demoted from a Fayetteville police lieutenant to a sergeant three years ago after officials determined that she took a mandatory police certification exam for then-Police Chief Harold Medlock without his knowledge or consent. Bass-Caine appealed the decision. The N.C. Department of Justice investigated the allegations and found Medlock had done nothing wrong.
A year later, Bass-Caine was promoted back to lieutenant, and two years later she was promoted to captain. Bass-Caine has more than 25 years of service with the Police Department. She is the first black woman in the department to attain the rank of captain.
Bass-Caine was unable to be reached for comment.
Terrible situation! We all know their pain and frustrations. God Bless
Sounds like even cops know these restrictions are stupid, unnecessary, and do nothing to protect children. Unconstitutional as well.
How can they keep on doing this, how is a man suppose to better himself if they don’t have some level of restrictions based by merit. How can one take therapy, search for answers and be a better person only to keep having punishment after punishment standing in the way of progress and life. Did this man do anything at these places, was there an issue, none what so ever. How many lives do they want to destroy, how about a arsonist, he has an uncontrollable desire to burn things, after he gets out do they monitor him if he buys matches. Do they tell him he cant live in a certain place, or do they wait until he breaks the law like there suppose to. All are suppose to be treated equal in this country, I cry each night I am lucky my kids are grown, sorry for those that have young children. If you ask me do some Sex Offenders need monitoring, OF COURSE THEY DO. One knows who they are, and why they shouldn’t be allowed to be in society, but we are not all alike. How do you take offenders, that sat down and made a deal with the judicial system, signed to be a judge, and issue additional punishment or stipulations upon a man. HOW
I wonder if the Captain might be protected under Castle Rock v. Gonzales… Because that would make me LOL.
I say good that this happened. She knows there is no danger to children here. A good example of how ridiculous these restrictions are. Lets not forget the registrant at the fair a few weeks ago caught with his family. Let the laws show themselves for what they are, plain old garbage.
Sounds as though he really presented a hazard to children and the community. Stupid restriction.