Henderson County -- August 17, 2026: A Henderson County man has been sentenced to at least 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to a statutory sexual offense involving a 15-year-old, according to the District Attorney’s Office for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.
Mason Edgar Shields, 31, of Hendersonville, pleaded guilty as charged on August 13 to statutory sexual offense of a person 15 years of age or younger.
Superior Court Judge Steve Warren presided over the Henderson County Criminal Superior Court session and sentenced Shields to a minimum of 192 months, or 16 years, and a maximum of 291 months, or approximately 24 years, in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the 15-year-old victim was a family friend. Investigators said Shields used that relationship to groom the child.
In addition to the prison sentence, Shields will be required to register as a sex offender for 30 years and comply with state laws and restrictions applicable to people convicted of sex offenses.
Assistant District Attorney Michael VanBuren handled the prosecution and sentencing.
District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced the conviction and sentence Monday. Murray serves Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties.