A Johnston County man sentenced to life in prison for the rape of his next door neighbor nearly 31 years ago is up for parole.
Travis E. Reddick was 16 years-old when he broke into the home of his neighbor on Bridge Street in Smithfield on September 29, 1987. The victim was awakened around 1:10am by Reddick who was holding a knife to her throat. The victim said she was raped by Reddick who then fled through a kitchen window. She was not seriously injured.
Detective Joey Cuddington with the Smithfield Police Department investigated the case that led to Reddick’s arrest.
During Reddick’s trial on January 21, 1988, he was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree rape, He received an additional 15 years in prison after also pleading guilty to first-degree burglary for the same incident.
The state’s current sentencing law, Structured Sentencing, eliminates parole for crimes committee on or after Oct. 1, 1994. However, the NC Post Release & Parole Commission has the responsibility of paroling offenders who were sentenced under previous sentencing guidelines.
The Commission is currently investigating the facts of the case before making a decision if Reddick will be paroled.
According to the NC Department of Public Safety website, Reddick is currently being housed at Caledonia Correctional Institution in Halifax County. Caledonia is a state prison farm for minimum and medium security inmates.
According to the website, Reddick, who is now 47, has had 10 violations since his incarceration in 1988 including infractions for disobeying orders, offering a bribe to staff, theft of property, sexual act, assault on a person with a weapon, possession of an audio/video image device and unauthorized use of tobacco.
