Former Durham police officer pleads guilty to sexually abusing young girls in his family

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Brittaney McBride stepped into a Durham County courtroom Monday with her support system by her side, finally ready to seek justice decades after a family member, Frank Lee Urban III, sexually assaulted.

“There won’t be anything left to hide under the rug for the sake of his name,” McBride told ABC11.

Urban was a firefighter and then a police officer in Durham from 1968 to 1988. He pleaded guilty Monday to sexually assaulting McBride when she was 3 and 4 years old. He also pleaded guilty to sexually abusing another young girl in their family years later.

The hearing detailed the horrific abuse both girls suffered at the hands of Urban, with both saying it caused deep and lifelong trauma.

“This false image that he presented as a public servant or a good person finally collapsed and the real monster was exposed,” McBride said.

McBride gave her victim impact statement in tears, explaining everything Urban did to her. She said she didn’t know how she overcame it, but was relieved to have the strength to speak out in court.

“I really feel like this was my last chance for him to hear directly from me and how I feel about him and what he did,” she said. “So he knows this abuse in our family stops with me.”

Urban also had the opportunity to address the court and his victims after pleading guilty to the abuse.

“I am very remorseful and almost attempted suicide,” Urban told the court Monday when he was allowed to address the court. He then explained how his life had been affected since his victims came forward, saying he didn’t want to leave the house and wasn’t celebrating Halloween this year. He remained unmoved during his brief remarks and did not directly apologize to any of the girls he admitted to abusing.

As part of the plea agreement, the court ordered Urban to apologize directly to his victims. He chose to write them a note. McBride’s note read: “Hi Brittaney, I’m sorry. I will always love you. Dad.”

Although he was technically sentenced to at least seven years in prison for his crimes, his sentence was suspended as part of his plea deal. That means he will spend two years on probation at home in Durham, instead of behind bars. Because of his plea and conviction, the only potential chance he will serve prison time is if he violates the terms of his probation.

Urban is not allowed to contact his victims. He must register as a sex offender. He will not be allowed to be around children without supervision.

Although McBride said she thought full justice would have meant prison time, she said she felt relieved that he was finally convicted and admitted to what he did.

McBride hopes that speaking out all these years later will show others who have survived abuse that it’s never too late to come forward.

“I hope this reaches them and they can find that strength and courage within themselves as well,” McBride said.

The Durham District Attorney’s Office also released this statement about the case: “The Durham District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the courageous survivors in this case. Based on their testimony, the State was able to hold Mr. Urban accountable today with multiple felony convictions decades later. “

If you are a victim of sexual assault or abuse, you can contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline 24/7 for confidential support by calling (800) 656-HOPE (4673) . You can also click here to learn more about resources available in North Carolina.