FROM STAFF REPORTS

A Mooresville man faces 21 felony charges as a result of a police investigation that began with a tip about inappropriate conduct on a social media site.

The Mooresville Police Department announced the arrest of Michael Dakota Richardson, 21, in a news releases on Monday.

The MPD initiated an investigation on January 21 after receiving information that Richardson was using social media to attempt to meet minors for sex, police said.

When confronted by detectives, Richardson admitted that he had been trying to arrange a meeting with a minor for that purpose, according to the news release.

Richardson was arrested and charged with Felony Solicitation of a Minor by Computer to Commit an Unlawful Sexual Act and placed in the Iredell County Detention Center under a $15,000 secured bond.

Richardson posted bond and was released after his arrest.

As part of the investigation, MPD personnel seized electronic devices from Richardson’s home. During a forensic examination of the devices, numerous items of explicit child pornography were located, police said.

Detectives obtained warrants charging Richardson with 20 counts of Felony Second-Degree Exploitation of a Minor.

On January 23, Richardson was arrested at his home on the new felony charges. He received a $40,000 secured bond and was placed in the Iredell County Detention Center.