GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A man was arrested for multiple charges related to child exploitation following a joint investigation by local and state authorities.
David Benton, 28, faces five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Gaston County Police Department. The charges stem from an investigation into the downloading and sharing of digital images.
The investigation was conducted by Gaston County Police in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, all members of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
Benton is being held without bond in the Gaston County Jail pending his first court appearance.
Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact Detective R. Smith at 704-866-3320 or CrimeStoppers at 704-861-8000.
