Swain County -- August 4, 2026: A Swain County man has been sentenced to up to 26 years and eight months in prison following a guilty plea to two counts of statutory rape of a child under 15 years of age.
Travis Ray Nations entered his plea in Swain County Superior Court on July 27, according to an August 3 news release from the Swain County Sheriff's Office. Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers handed down the sentence, placing Nations into the custody of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.
Details of the Charges and Sentencing
According to court records, the charges stem from two separate incidents occurring years apart:
First Offense: Occurred on February 1, 2017.
Second Offense: Occurred on August 1, 2020, as detailed in an amended judgment entered in Swain County Superior Court.
Each conviction constitutes a Class B1 felony under North Carolina law. During the sentencing proceedings, the court determined that Nations had no prior record points, placing him at Prior Record Level I. He received credit for 1,541 days already served in confinement prior to sentencing.
Victim Impact Statements Shared in Court
During the sentencing phase, two survivors addressed the court through victim impact statements. According to the Swain County Sheriff's Office, one survivor delivered an oral statement in person, while the second submitted a handwritten statement.
The news release noted that these statements detailed the lasting emotional, physical, and financial impacts suffered by the survivors as a direct result of the offenses.
Registration and Rehabilitation Orders
In addition to the active prison sentence, Judge Sellers mandated the following measures:
Sex Offender Registration: Nations is required to register as a sex offender under North Carolina law for 30 years following his release.
Program Recommendation: The court recommended that Nations enroll in and complete the Sex Offender Accountability and Responsibility (SOAR) program if and when it becomes available during his incarceration.