IFN Staff

An eastern Iredell County resident has been arrested and charged with several felonies related to the possession of child sexual abuse material following an investigation by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of Kyo Te Xiong, 21, of Deerchase Circle, Statesville, in a news release. 

The Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation on September 2 after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children related to child sexual abuse material, Campbell said. The case was assigned to Special Victims Unit Detective Lane.

During the course of the investigation, Detective Lane identified Xiong as the suspect, according to the news release. The detective obtained search warrants for the suspect’s social media accounts and obtained evidence pertinent to the investigation, Campbell said.

Based on evidence collected in this investigation, Detective Lane obtained an arrest warrant charging Xiong with one count of felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of felony third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Xiong was located and arrested on October 17. He was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center, where he was issued a $75,000 secured bond by Magistrate Nethken.

The investigation is on-going. Additional charges are pending further investigation, Campbell said.