Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include additional charges being filed by the Troutman Police Department.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Statesville couple faces numerous felony charges following a multi-agency investigation into sexual assault allegations by two teenage girls.

The Statesville Police Department and Troutman Police Department announced the arrests of Aaron Daniel Salyer, 38, and Tabitha Elizabeth Vain, 38, in separate news releases on Thursday.

The SPD began investigating on Wednesday after receiving a phone call from a teen who said she had been sexually assaulted over the past eight years, police said. The girl called police from her cell phone while at a doctor’s office, according to the SPD news release.

Statesville police investigators responded and began an investigation with the assistance of Iredell County Department of Social Services staff.

DSS staff contacted Vain and asked her to come to the residence in reference to the investigation. After Vain and Salyer arrived, Vain was arrested on an outstanding warrant and Salyer was arrested and charged with driving while license revoked.

Both subjects were taken before an Iredell County magistrate, where Vain posted bond and was released.

DSS took custody of a 14-year-old girl and her 16-year-old sister. The girls told investigators that Salyer had sexually assaulted them over the past years and that Vain knew about the sexual assaults and did nothing to help the girls, according to the SPD news release.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the couple’s residence and seized undisclosed evidence pertaining to the case, according to the SPD news release.

Salyer was charged with five counts of Statutory Rape of a Child, five counts of Statutory Sex Offense with a Child, five counts of Sex Act by Sub Parent/Custodian, six counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child and five counts of Felony Child Abuse-Prostitution.

Vain was charged with five counts of Felony Child Abuse-Sexual Act.

Both Salyer and Vain were taken before Magistrate Thompson, who set Salyer’s bond at $1.5 million. Vain was given a $500,000 bond.

TPD announces additional charges; magistrate increases bonds

The Troutman Police Department announced later Thursday that it had filed additional felony charges against Salyer and Vain for criminal offenses that occurred within town limits between 2013 and 2018.

TPD Detective Cameron Jones obtained warrants on Thursday charging Salyer with three counts of Statutory Rape of a Child, 10 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, six counts of Statutory Sex Offense, and two counts of Sex Act by a Parent. Vain was charged with three additional counts of Felony Child Abuse Involving a Sex Act.

Detective Jones and Sgt. Chad Trivette served the warrants at the Iredell County Detention Center. A magistrate added $300,000 to Salyer’s bond and $100,000 to Vain’s bond.