Man convicted for illicit photo posts faces more charges

Published 6:30 pm Wednesday, November 6, 2019

SALISBURY — A Granite Quarry man who was sentenced to prison for posting illicit photos on social media is expected back in court later this month to face charges in Davidson and Cabarrus counties, according to arrest warrants.

Peter Thomas Kiever, 24, remains in the Rowan County Detention Center on a $15,000 secured bond.

Two weeks ago, he was sentenced to five to 11 years in prison on 2014 charges of posting illicit photos on social media sites including Instagram, Kik, Facebook and Twitter. The postings showed photos of nude and semi-nude girls and identified them as students at area schools.

According to arrest warrants obtained by the Post, on Aug. 29, Kiever falsified the ownership of a 2011 Ford F-250 with the intent to “cheat and defraud” a man and obtain $12,000 by false pretenses.

The Kannapolis Police Department charged Kiever with felony obtaining property by false pretenses.

Arrest warrants said on Sept. 10, Kiever caused more than $200 worth of damage at a Thomasville hotel. The warrant said Kiever damaged a television, mirror, microwave and mattress at Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndam. He was charged by Davidson County authorities with misdemeanor injury to personal property.

Davis Ramsey, chief deputy of the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Kiever was out on bond in the 2014 incidents when the hotel was damaged. Kiever was arrested Oct. 23, according to jail records.

He is expected in court Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 on the fraud and property damage charges.

Detectives with the Granite Quarry-Faith Joint Police Authority said in 2014 that Kiever solicited nude pictures from juveniles and had them stored on a thumb drive. Kiever wanted the pictures so he could distribute them to others, investigators said.

Investigator Todd Taylor said at the time they linked Kiever to social media accounts used to post the illicit photos through a computer owned by his father, Brian Kiever, who previously ran unsuccessfully for sheriff.

Landis police received complaints from residents about three Instagram accounts with pictures of nude or semi-nude young girls believed to be from East Rowan High, West Rowan High, Kannapolis Middle and South Rowan High schools, based on captions.

The Instagram accounts called “rowancountyhoes,” “rowan_county_hoes” and “rowancountywhores” showed girls in bras and underwear and others who were nude — some from the neck down and some showing the victim’s face.

The Instagram accounts were tied to Peter Kiever, a minor and another unknown person. The minor also was charged.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.