North Carolina- Former NASCAR spokesman Richard N. "Chip" Williams, who represents several race-car drivers through his own company, was arrested in Greensboro on Tuesday on rape charges involving a girl who was 11 at the time.
Williams, 48, of Mooresville faces one count of statutory rape, first-degree rape offense of a child and solicitation of child by computer to commit an unlawful sex act.
The first two charges involve the 11-year-old girl who is now 15, said Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes. The solicitation charge was filed after Williams encountered an undercover police officer Tuesday in a church parking lot. Williams thought he was meeting a 14-year-old girl he had contacted through the Internet, Barnes said.
Williams doesn't have a criminal history in North Carolina, according to court records. Phone calls to his home and friends were not returned. Jeff Dennison, who works for Williams as a public relations agent for Petty Enterprises, declined to comment.
The FBI, State Bureau of Investigation, Guilford County Sheriff's Office and Greensboro Police are still investigating the case. FBI spokesman Ken Lucas said investigators are considering additional charges.
Police are currently examining Williams' computers at home and work.
Williams, of the 100 block of Babbling Brook Road, remained at Guilford County Jail under a $1 million bond late Tuesday. His first court appearance is scheduled for today.
Williams was NASCAR's spokesman from 1982 until March 1, 1994, when he resigned to start his own business. Williams Company of America Inc. currently represents drivers such as John Andretti, Kyle Petty and Bobby Labonte.
Barnes said there was no indication that any of those drivers "had a clue" about Williams' alleged conduct.
According to the investigation, Williams met the first girl in Greensboro at least five times in the past couple years, said Barnes, declining to say exactly when or where the meetings occurred. Police opened the case a few days ago, he said, declining to give more details.
In the solicitation case, Barnes said, Williams exchanged "very graphic and sexually explicit" content through an online chat room with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Authorities unexpectedly moved up their sting Tuesday because Williams wanted to meet the teen earlier than planned, Barnes said.
"He got a little aggressive with the undercover person and wanted to come immediately," Barnes said. "He wanted her to skip school."
Police arrested Williams after he looked for the girl in the church parking lot and then left, Barnes said.
