LOWELL, N.C. — A former Lowell police officer accused of contacting a 14-year-old girl he impregnated was in court Tuesday morning.
James Blair is serving 12 years behind bars for statutory rape.
[PAST COVERAGE: Former officer serving time tried to mail teen he impregnated, family says]
Members of the teenager's family now claim Blair’s sister has reached out to her repeatedly on her brother’s behalf and even arranged conference calls.
Blair told the judge he understood there was lifetime ban on communications with her, and his sister said she never initiated contact with the teenager.
“I have had zero contact with her,” Blair said.
“No. Never done that,” Blair’s sister, Kathy Baxter, said.
The teenager’s attorney said there are recordings of some of the calls between Baxter and the girl.
“The minor has called me,” Baxter said.
Blair’s attorney claims he plans to be a father to his now 2-year-old son when he gets out of prison in 10 years.
"My family has went through hell and back, and I'm not going to allow him to have anything to do with that baby,” the victim’s mother said.
The family now wants a no contact order against Blair's sister.
There will be another hearing in a little over a month. If the court determines Blair violated his no contact order, then he will face a new misdemeanor charge that may add significant time to his sentence.
Earlier this year, Channel 9 reported the teenager is suing the officer, the police chief and the town.
The lawsuit claims Blair, who mentored the girl, took advantage of the family's trust.
The mother said she once trusted Blair as an officer and asked him to mentor her daughter but later learned he instead got her pregnant.
DNA tests revealed he is the baby's father, which led to his arrest and conviction.
The teen's attorneys said the city and police chief failed to provide training and oversight to prevent this type of situation from happening.
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