FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Statesville man was arrested on charges he possessed sexual exploitation material and jailed without bond following a multi-agency investigation.

The Statesville Police Department announced the arrest of Devin Gage Staley, 25, in a news release Friday.

The SPD began an investigation on January 9 after investigators received a reports from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation regarding an individual in Statesville uploading child sexual exploitation material, police said.

Investigators identified the suspect as Staley, who  was residing at a home on West Front Street in Statesville, according to the news release.

As part of the investigation, the SPD obtained search warrants for various social media accounts associated with Staley and uncovered a significant number of uploads of child sexual exploitation material, police said.

Investigators determined that a total of 33 files had been uploaded between December 8, 2022, and April 26, 2023, according to the news release.

On January 22, investigators obtained warrants charging Staley with 12 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

On Thursday, January 25, the U.S. Marshal’s Carolina Regional Fugitive Task Force apprehended Staley at a home on Jennings Road in Statesville. A magistrate ordered Staley held without bond, citing the nature of the charges.

As the investigation continues, additional charges may be filed, police said.

The Statesville Police Department expressed its appreciation to both the NCSBI and the U.S. Marshal Service for their assistance in this investigation and for their ongoing partnership to ensure the safety and security of the community.