A 22-year-old Henderson County man was arrested on Aug. 28, related to the possession and sharing of child sex abuse material.
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office said in an Aug. 31 news release that following an investigation, the Henderson County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force arrested Maximiliano Gomez Diaz, 22. Diaz was charged with thee counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor.
The sheriff's office said Diaz was arrested without incident. He is currently in custody at the Henderson County Detention Center.
Under North Carolina General Statute 14-190.17A, a person commits the offense of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor if, knowing the character or content of the material, he possesses a child sex doll or material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity or that has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexual activity.
Under North Carolina General Statute 14-190.17, a person commits the offense of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor if, knowing the character or content of the material, the person does any of the following:
Records, photographs, films, develops, or duplicates material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Distributes, transports, exhibits, receives, sells, purchases, exchanges, or solicits material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity or that has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaged in sexual activity.
The sheriff's office said in the release that this incident is part of an ongoing investigation, and no other information will be released at this time.
In a court of law all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Henderson County ICAC Task Force is a unit made up of investigators from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and Hendersonville Police Department, the release said. They are dedicated to their pursuit and apprehension of predators who exploit and abuse children.
The sheriff's office said anyone with additional information regarding Diaz should contact the sheriff's office at 828-697-4596 or use the “submit a tip” feature available on the Henderson County Sheriff's Office mobile app .
STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOS.
