IFN Staff

A Mooresville man faces more than a dozen child sexual exploitation charges following an investigation by the Mooresville Police Department.

The MPD announced the arrest of James Joel Letarte, 67, of Holly Ridge Drive, Mooresville, in a news release Wednesday. The Criminal Investigations Division opened an investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children related to an internet account belonging to Letarte that was linked to child sexual abuse material, police said.

On July 11, MPD detectives executed a search warrant at Letarte’s residence and seized numerous electronic devices, according to the news release. MPD computer forensic analysts discovered evidence of extensive of child sexual abuse material linked to Letarte, police said.

As a result of the investigation, Letarte was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

He was subsequently released on a $50,000 secured bond.

Letarte was arrested again on Wednesday and charged with 10 additional counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and misdemeanor resist, delay, or obstruct a public officer. He was being held in the Iredell County Jail without bond.