ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A 57-year-old man was arrested by Rowan County Sheriff’s Office deputies following an investigation into the possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse material, authorities announced.
Fred Thomas Tyner III was taken into custody after investigators executed a search warrant for his electronic devices, the sheriff announced on Wednesday.
The investigation was recently initiated after detectives received information indicating that Tyner was involved in sending and receiving child sexual abuse material over the preceding two months.
Detectives obtained and executed the search warrant for Tyner’s devices on Tuesday. Evidence gathered during the investigation indicates Tyner purchased child sexual abuse images and videos online and disseminated the material to others in some instances, the sheriff said.
Tyner faces seven counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a child. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
Detectives are continuing to identify and investigate other individuals involved in the distribution of the illicit material. Investigators are also working to determine the identities of the children depicted in the images and videos.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information that may assist investigators to contact the agency.
Tyner is scheduled to make a court appearance this Friday.