Police say a registered sex offender harassed women in two stores when he made sexual comments and showed them pictures of his genitals.
According to arrest warrants, Marcus Anthony Carter approached two women Friday as they shopped at Lowe’s Foods, 401 Cox Road, Gastonia, and Target, 425 Cox Road, according to arrest warrants.
Carter took pictures of his private parts on his cell phone and showed them to the women.
He was charged with two counts of preparing obscene photos and a probation violation, all misdemeanors.
According to the N.C. Sex Offender Registry website, Carter took indecent liberties with a child in Alexander County in 2004. He was convicted in 2009 and initially sentenced to probation but violated and spent time in prison until June of 2012, according to the N.C. Department of Correction website.
That conviction marked Carter’s second recorded sex-based crime in North Carolina.
Carter was sentenced to two years in prison in 1996 on convictions of assault on a female and second-degree attempted sex offense. The crimes happened in Gaston County in June 1995, according to the N.C. Department of Correction website.
For his previous offense, Carter has been sentenced to lifetime on the Sex Offender Registry. Such designation restricts Carter’s access to children and requires him to keep the local sheriff’s office aware of his address.
Carter remained in Gaston County Jail Sunday night on a $25,000 secured bond.