An Orange County resident and sex offender faces several counts of sexual exploitation of a minor following an investigation by North Carolina law enforcement and Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
A release from the sheriff’s office said its deputies arrested and charged 34-year-old Daniel Cody Wright on Wednesday over one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation. Both are categorized as felonies and are related to either possessing or buying/selling material containing visuals of a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Wright, who lives at a mobile home park in the part of Orange County within Durham city limits, was required to register as a sex offender in Sep. 2024 after serving a 15-month prison sentence in another state for similar crimes committed in 2022. An Internet Crime Against Children tip from the State Bureau of Investigation started the case against Wright and ICAC task force members began working with local law enforcement several weeks ago to develop probably cause of Wright’s arrest, according to Wednesday’s release.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said additional charges may ultimately be filed against Wright. After taking him into custody Wednesday morning, investigators used a search warrant to collect electronics from his home which will be scanned to see if Wright possessed even more illegal materials.
The local magistrate ordered Wright to be confined at the Orange County Detention Center under a $25,000 secured bond following his arrest. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges on Thursday, July 17.
RAINN offers a 24/7 hotline and online chat line to use for crisis support of sexual assault or abuse victims. Call the hotline at 800-656-4673, and access the online chat hotline here.
Featured photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
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