Man charged with child pornography

Hooper

Staff report

A Salisbury man faces Internet child pornography charges following an investigation by the Rowan County Sheriff's Office.

Kevin Jason Hooper, 37, 405 Brookfield Circle, was arrested Tuesday on 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under $15,000 bond.

Capt. John Sifford said the Sheriff's Office received information in early February that a Salisbury man was involved in the collection of Internet child pornography.

Detective J.P. Whitley, who specializes in investigating computer child sex crimes, contacted the State Bureau of Investigation and began an extended investigation.

On Feb. 18, Whitley and an SBI agent went to the Brookfield Circle home and initially talked with Hooper's father, who said his son had control over the wireless Internet.

Later, when the officers met with Kevin Hooper, he agreed to a search of his computer, according to Sifford.

While the SBI agent talked with Kevin Hooper, Detective Whitley searched the computer, finding numerous images and videos of pornography involving young children.

Whitley seized Hooper's computer, external hard drive, multiple thumb drives, a DSL modem and 10 CDRs that Hooper told officer contained child pornography, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Sifford said the images involved prepubescent teens and involved both girls and boys.

No local children are thought to be involved. "This was mass-produced porn obtained and distributed over the Internet," Sifford said.

The investigation is continuing.