A Johnston County man will spend the next 11 to 22 years in prison for the attempted rape of a convenience store clerk.
On Monday, Kenneth Dobbins, 46, of Little Creek Church Road, Clayton was convicted of the attack two years ago on the clerk at the Valero Mart on US70 in Clayton.
Dobbins pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree rape, breaking and entering a motor vehicle, and being a habitual felon. Dobbins will serve 11 to 22 years in the NC Department of Corrections.
Once released from prison, Dobbins must register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life and have lifetime satellite-based monitoring.
Prosecutors said Dobbins physically and sexually attacked the 38 year-old store clerk as she was getting out of her car to open the business around 5:00am on April 6, 2013. Clayton Police said Dobbin was wearing a bag over his face when he forced the victim back into her car and committed the assault. The victim was able to fight back and eventually force the man out of the car and lock the car doors. Dobbins was fled on foot but arrested the following day.
Prosecutors said the victim was able to identify Dobbins as the attacker. There was also DNA linking him to the crime.
District Attorney Susan Doyle thanked the Clayton Police Department for their hard work in the investigation and also the victim in this crime for coming forward and reporting the assault. “Because of this victim’s courage to report what happened to her and law enforcement’s timely investigation, we were able to prosecute this defendant as a habitual felon and make sure that he is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.”
