Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields announced an arrest on Thursday following an investigation in the Carthage area.
On May 4, the Moore County Sheriff’s Office initiated an undercover investigation after receiving information regarding an individual allegedly in possession of child sexual abuse material. This investigation has culminated in the arrest of Robert Thomas, age 45, of Heritage Farm Road, Carthage.
On July 24, Thomas was taken into custody and charged with 30 counts of felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and 30 counts of felony third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Digital evidence seized at the time of the arrest is still being analyzed by the sheriff’s office’s digital forensic section to establish the full extent of the offenses allegedly committed by Thomas.
Thomas was committed to the Moore County Detention Center under a $1,000,000 secured bond and is scheduled for his first court appearance on Aug. 7 in Moore County District Court.
“The Moore County Sheriff’s Office is an active member of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and remains steadfast in its commitment to making Moore County a safer place for children,” said Fields in a press release.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Contributed—photo via Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
