17-05-2025
Harnett County man charged with rape, assault, other crimes
A western Harnett County man is facing multiple charges, including two felony counts each of statutory rape of a child under 15 and indecent liberties.
Tommy Joey Tapia, 26, of the 500 block of Thomas Farm Road between Seminole and Mamers, was indicted April 21 in Harnett County Superior Court.
He was initially arrested May 14, 2024 and held on a $100,000 secured bond. That was modified to an unsecured $100,000 bond on Aug. 28, 2024, and he posted it on Sept. 3, 2024.
However, his bond was revoked on May 5 due to new charges following his arrest on April 10 for violating a protective order, assault on a female and domestic violence, all misdemeanors.
He is now being held on secured bond of $200,000.
Tapia allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl on and after Nov. 22, 2022, according to a court document.
On Dec. 16, 2023, he allegedly hit her on the head with a firearm and then threw her cell phone out the window of a car when she was 15.
On April 13, 2024, he allegedly punched her in the right eye and stole her iPhone 14 Pro Max valued at $1,200.
For those incidents, he is facing felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods, assault on a female and interfering with emergency communications, the latter two are misdemeanors.
Tapia also faces multiple charges stemming from Jan. 14, 2024, including driving with a revoked license, expired tag, no inspection, no insurance, window tint violation, no seat belt and failure to stop at a red light. He failed to appear in court on Sept. 12 and Oct. 18, 2024.
He was served with a civil suit for failure to pay child support on Feb. 27.
On May 7, 2019, Tapia pleaded guilty to no driver's license and was fined $440, stemming from July 9, 2016. He failed to appear in court one time, and also was found responsible for failure to maintain lane control. He paid the fine.
A charge of simple assault and communicating threats and stemming from 2015 and 2016 were dismissed. No reasons were given in eCourts.
