Ronnie Kimball, a junior and a football player at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School, was arrested Thursday at school and charged with attempted first-degree statuatory rape.
Investigators say in August, Kimball, 16, made sexual advances toward a 9-year-old girl.
"The allegation is that he tried to have sexual intercourse with a child," said Maj. T.S. Matthews, of the Wake County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators believe the crime happened in Kimball's home. His mother said she believes with all of her heart that her son is innocent. She also said she is afraid the charge will ruin his life, but investigators said the victim is their first priority.
"Our goal here is to protect the child and see that she gets the counseling she needs to get through this," Matthews said.
The principal at the high school said the sheriff's office made the arrest discreetly with no disruption to other students.
Kimball is being held in the Wake County jail on $50,000 bond. If Kimball is released, he is to have no contact with the victim and no unsupervised contact with children.
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