{"id":136237,"date":"2025-10-15T20:11:43","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T00:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thencbeat.com\/?p=136237"},"modified":"2025-10-15T20:11:43","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T00:11:43","slug":"catawba-county-child-sex-crime-arrests-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/15\/catawba-county-child-sex-crime-arrests-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Catawba Net: Major Child Sex Crime Bust in Catawba County"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"326\" data-end=\"504\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Ten people have been arrested and charged in a massive three-day child sex crime operation known as <em>\u201cOperation Catawba Net,\u201d<\/em> led by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CatawbaCountySheriff\/\"><em>Catawba County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"506\" data-end=\"813\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The sheriff\u2019s office said the mission was clear \u2014 to track down and arrest individuals using the internet to prey on minors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"815\" data-end=\"1004\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The sting operation involved local, state, and federal agencies, working together to take down suspected predators who allegedly used online platforms to solicit minors for sexual acts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1011\" data-end=\"1060\"><strong data-start=\"1015\" data-end=\"1060\">Who Was Arrested in Operation Catawba Net<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1062\" data-end=\"1139\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CatawbaCountySheriff\/posts\/pfbid02yZzVKM2oKgmCShzy8XewePhB34y6rwsQsScofGv9Y2TqXKBjyBRTzLrrQ1d4vkJ9l\">following individuals<\/a> are facing multiple felony sex crime charges:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"1350\">\n<p data-start=\"1143\" data-end=\"1350\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"1143\" data-end=\"1169\">Thomas Davonne Ellerbe<\/strong>, 26, of Morrisville, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act and appear; attempted indecent liberties with a child; four counts of disseminating obscene material.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136242\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136242\" style=\"width: 594px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4404.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136242 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4404.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"594\" height=\"533\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136242\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ellerbe, 26, of Morrisville, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"1351\" data-end=\"1563\">\n<p data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1563\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1375\">Douglas Peter Hess<\/strong>, 72, of Conover, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act and appear; attempted indecent liberties with a child; 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136243\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136243\" style=\"width: 552px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4405.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136243 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4405.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"552\" height=\"539\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136243\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hess, 72, of Conover, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"1564\" data-end=\"1767\">\n<p data-start=\"1566\" data-end=\"1767\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"1566\" data-end=\"1590\">George Wriston Payne<\/strong>, 59, of Charlotte, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act and appear; attempted indecent liberties with a child; one count of disseminating obscene material.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136244\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136244\" style=\"width: 587px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4406.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136244 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4406.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"587\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136244\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Payne, 59, of Charlotte, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"1768\" data-end=\"1972\">\n<p data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1972\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1791\">Kim Harlan Harris<\/strong>, 70, of Lincolnton, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act and appear; attempted indecent liberties with a child; three counts of disseminating obscene material.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136245\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136245\" style=\"width: 581px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4407.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136245 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4407.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"581\" height=\"533\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136245\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Harris, 70, of Lincolnton, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"1973\" data-end=\"2170\">\n<p data-start=\"1975\" data-end=\"2170\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"1975\" data-end=\"2004\">William Patrick Abernathy<\/strong>, 56, of Newton, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act; second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor; third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136246\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136246\" style=\"width: 584px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4408-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136246 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4408-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"584\" height=\"542\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136246\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Abernathy, 56, of Newton, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"2171\" data-end=\"2315\">\n<p data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2315\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"2173\" data-end=\"2199\">Ronay Roblero Bartolon<\/strong>, 44, of Conover, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act; four counts of disseminating obscenity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136247\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136247\" style=\"width: 561px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4409-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136247 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4409-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"561\" height=\"540\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136247\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bartolon, 44, of Conover, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"2316\" data-end=\"2473\">\n<p data-start=\"2318\" data-end=\"2473\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"2318\" data-end=\"2347\">Carroll Randol Woodie Jr.<\/strong>, 61, of Hickory, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act and appear; two counts of disseminating obscenity.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136248\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136248\" style=\"width: 575px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4410.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136248 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4410.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"575\" height=\"551\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136248\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Woodie Jr., 61, of Hickory, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"2474\" data-end=\"2613\">\n<p data-start=\"2476\" data-end=\"2613\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"2476\" data-end=\"2504\">Robert Gaspare Micciulla<\/strong>, 58, of Valdese, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act; indecent liberties with a child.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136249\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136249\" style=\"width: 586px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4411.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136249 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4411.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"586\" height=\"531\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136249\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Micciulla, 58, of Valdese, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"2614\" data-end=\"2715\">\n<p data-start=\"2616\" data-end=\"2715\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"2616\" data-end=\"2640\">George Eleftheriadis<\/strong>, 51, of Marion, NC \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136250\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136250\" style=\"width: 558px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4412.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136250 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4412.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"558\" height=\"516\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136250\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eleftheriadis, 51, of Marion, NC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul data-start=\"1141\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<li data-start=\"2716\" data-end=\"2815\">\n<p data-start=\"2718\" data-end=\"2815\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong data-start=\"2718\" data-end=\"2739\">Justin Dean Akers<\/strong>, 41, of Newport, VA \u2013 Soliciting a child by computer to commit a sex act.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_136251\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-136251\" style=\"width: 577px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4413.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-136251 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_4413.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"577\" height=\"540\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-136251\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Akers, 41, of Newport, VA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2862\" data-end=\"3063\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This investigation included coordination with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, NC SBI, and multiple county and municipal police departments across the region.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3065\" data-end=\"3603\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Other agencies that participated include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3065\" data-end=\"3603\"><br data-start=\"3106\" data-end=\"3109\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><em>Cleveland County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Iredell County Sheriff\u2019s Office, McDowell County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff\u2019s Office (VA), Hickory Police Department, Newton Police Department, Conover Police Department, Maiden Police Department, Mooresville Police Department, Huntersville Police Department, Cornelius Police Department, Catawba County STAR Team, Hickory Police Special Operations Team, Catawba County Emergency Services, Catawba County Soil and Water, and Skeet\u2019s Towing.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ten people have been arrested and charged in a massive three-day child sex crime operation known as \u201cOperation Catawba Net,\u201d led by the Catawba County Sheriff\u2019s Office. The sheriff\u2019s office said the mission was clear \u2014 to track down and arrest individuals using the internet to prey on minors. The sting operation involved local, state, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":136254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[7557,7558,4364,4365,620,7559,4886,28,7560],"class_list":["post-136237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-north-carolina-news","tag-catawba-county","tag-catawba-county-sheriffs-office","tag-child-exploitation","tag-child-sex-crimes","tag-fbi","tag-nc-sbi","tag-north-carolina-arrests","tag-north-carolina-news","tag-operation-catawba-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=136237"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/136237\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=136237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=136237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thencbeat.thecodetechnologies.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=136237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}