SELMA – Following an 11 month investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, a Johnston County Grand Jury returned a True Bill of Indictment on Tuesday indicting David Ricky Godwin Sr. of Selma for 25 counts of felony indecent liberties with a child.
It is alleged Godwin took indecent liberties with a family member between 1972 and 1977. At the time of the offenses the victim was under the age of 13, according to Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Caldwell.
Arrest warrants were issued for Godwin on September 7th. He was arrested by a sheriff’s detective at his home on Pollock Street in Selma this morning (Wednesday).
The 74 year-old man was held on a $5 million bond after being booked into the Johnston County Jail Wednesday morning.
In 2017, Mr. Godwin was sentenced to four years probation as part of a plea agreement in federal court in Raleigh. RGB, Incorporated (now know as Regional Amusements Inc.) operated as Godwin Music in Selma and Raleigh Amusement in Garner, was sentenced to probation. As part of the plea, RBG forfeited $2,334,500 and agreed to pay a $150,000 bond.
As part of the plea agreement, federal prosecutors dismissed the related gambling charges against David Ricky Godwin Sr. and his son, David Ricky Godwin, Jr.
RGB was named in a 22-count superseding indictment filed in August, 2015. The company was originally indicted in June 2015 for allegedly operating an illegal gambling business with offices in Selma and Raleigh.
The indictment alleged the gambling devices were located in businesses in Smithfield, Kenly, Wilson, Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Garner, and Raleigh. In 2014, state and federal authorities seized a number of the machines from establishments in Johnston County as well as other areas.
Ricky Godwin Sr. served time in federal prison for running an illegal gambling business following a 2004 raid.
All I am willing to say on this subject is I lived in Selma and know what it is like to have lived around Little Henry’s and Larry Tavern. Ricky may be up in age, but never underestimate him. I wouldn’t want to be in that me-too moment even if family.
Really I think some members of the family have ran out of money
Time will prove you wrong on that one. Ricky’s Karma has come a knocking is more like it.
I commend the strength it has taken to bring this forward and no doubt this family member has more than likely lived in fear like others who have been negatively affected by this man. It took only a few hours for his photo to be removed from the article on FB. It will take others coming forward about all his crimes and even then it’s a big risk.
Why wait all these years to day anything…That is very strange…