ASHEBORO, N.C. — A man has been arrested and charged with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material and sexually abusing a minor, according to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.
Ethan William Colbert was arrested Sept. 21, 2021, after an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division Internet Crimes Against Children unit.
Detectives received a tip that Colbert was distributing child sexual abuse material and engaging in sexual relationships with juvenile females.
On Aug. 16, 2021, deputies received a call about a missing or runaway child. The child was located with Colbert. Investigators determined that Colbert and the child had been involved in a sexual relationship.
Colbert was arrested and charged with nine counts of felony disseminating obscene material to a minor, seven counts of felony second-degree exploitation of a minor, one count of felony first-degree exploitation of a minor, one count of felony statutory rape of a child and one count of felony statutory sex offense of a child.
He is being held at the Randolph County Jail under a $1 million secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Randolph County District Court on Sept. 23, 2021.
The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
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