FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Statesville man faces drug and child pornography charges following a pair of investigations by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Brian Dean McGarity, 42, of no fixed address in a news release.

The ICSO began investigating after receiving numerous complaints from citizens about illegal drug activity at the Best-In-Town Motel on West Front Street in Statesville, Campbell said.

Narcotics detectives and members of the ICSO Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team conducted surveillance in the area to verify the information. Based upon this information, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Wednesday, December 6, according to the news release.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies located approximately 26.70 grams of methamphetamine and 1.30 grams of fentanyl with a combined street value of approximately $2,200, Campbell said.

One of the vehicle’s occupants lied to the deputies about his identity, but deputies determined the man’s true identity was Brian Dean McGarity.

Through a criminal records search, deputies learned McGarity had several active warrants for his arrest for absconding probation.

McGarity was arrested and transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was charged with Felony Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Fentanyl, a misdemeanor drug offense, and absconding probation. McGarity appeared before Magistrate Callejas who issued a $176,000 secured bond on those charges.

As the investigation continued, narcotics detectives seized a cell phone belonging to McGarity and obtained a search warrant to process it for evidence of criminal activity, the sheriff said.

While reviewing digital evidence from the phone, the investigators discovered numerous items of child pornography, according to the news release. The narcotics detectives contacted detectives with the ICSO Special Victims Unit.

Special Victims Unit detectives located numerous images of child sexual assault material on McGarity’s phone, Campbell said.

As a result of this investigation, McGarity was charged with 10 counts of Felony Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Magistrate Chambers issued an additional $75,000 secured bond on these charges.

According to the ICSO, the suspect’s criminal history includes the following charges: Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, three counts of Driving while Impaired, three counts of Misdemeanor Carrying a Concealed Weapon, two counts of Misdemeanor Larceny, Misdemeanor Violation of a Court Order, two counts of Misdemeanor Resisting a Public Officer, Misdemeanor Urinating in Public, four counts of Felony Obtaining Controlled Substance by Fraud, Misdemeanor Common Law Forgery, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor Simple Possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, two counts of Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, and Felony Conspire to Sell or Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance.

McGarity is currently on probation for Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance and Felony Sell or Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance.