Rep. Cecil Brockman has been hospitalized after being taken into custody on charges of indecent liberties with a child and statutory rape.
Brockman, a member of the N.C. House, was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday afternoon. A bailiff said the appearance would be postponed because Brockman had experienced “a medical emergency” and had been taken to a local hospital.
Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump was present in the courtroom when the announcement was made.
Calls for his resignation
Brockman is facing calls to resign from across the political spectrum following his arrest on charges related to child sex crimes.
Brockman, 41, has been charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a child and two counts of statutory rape of minors aged 13 through 15, according to jail records.
As of Thursday morning, Brockman was being held without bond.
The indecent liberties charges Brockman faces involve minors younger than 16.
Online court records list the offenses as having occurred on Aug. 15. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation arrested Brockman on Wednesday.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation, and no additional details are currently available,” according to a statement from the agency.
When asked for comment shortly after noon on Thursday, Brockman’s legislative assistant Drew Gibson said, “We do not have a statement at this time.” He said it was unclear when the office would have a response.
Brockman, a Democrat from High Point, has served in the N.C. House of Representatives for more than a decade.
Political figures and organizations ranging from Republican House Speaker Destin Hall to the N.C. Democratic Party have called for Brockman’s immediate resignation.
Rep. Pricey Harrison, a Democratic member of Guilford County’s delegation, also said she believes Brockman should resign to “focus on addressing these allegations.”
“The charges against Rep. Brockman are serious and deeply troubling,” Harrison said. “While every person is entitled to due process under the law, these allegations are incompatible with representing his district as a member of the N.C. General Assembly and a distraction from the important work we still have to do.”
Controversial lawmaker
Even before his arrest, Brockman had been a controversial figure, particularly within his party.
Democrats criticized Brockman for missing votes – he was absent for roughly a third of votes during the last session – and for voting with Republicans on some issues.
Brockman has attributed his absences to mental health struggles. He has also defended his approach to his job as a legislator, stating that it has enabled him to secure funding and resources for his district.
“As you can see, when we have a super minority in the Senate and we are one vote shy of a super minority in the House, a deal is always gonna be made,” Brockman said in a July text message. “I believe it is best for my (constituency) for me as a legislator to be at the table and negotiate and compromise, allowing the majority to get some of what they want and allowing the minority to also get some of what they want.”
The criticism of Brockman came to a head last December, when Brockman missed a veto override vote on a bill that removed powers from incoming Democratic officials.
While Brockman’s vote was not decisive, his absence and lack of responsiveness when other officials attempted to contact him ahead of the vote led some Guilford County Democrats to voice their consternation.
“It’s extremely frustrating because he’s not a Democrat,” Rep. Tracy Clark said in December. “He doesn’t attend Democratic caucus. He doesn’t vote with the party. We cannot trust or hold him accountable for being with us on important votes like the one we had yesterday.”
Brockman would go on to lambast his critics and issue a warning to fellow Democrats.
“For those in our party who desire to keep my name in their mouths, let me make it plain and clear for you: Over these next two years, you need me. I do not need you,” Brockman wrote in a Facebook post in December.
Brockman’s seat is up for election next year. In his last primary in 2024, Brockman notched a narrow primary win over challenger James Adams, winning 50.7% to 49.3%.
kevin.griffin@greensboro.com
Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter
Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Kevin Griffin
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Log In
Don’t have an account? Sign Up Today