The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Carrboro man Monday and has charged him with multiple counts of sexual exploitation.
42-year-old Michael Robert Westendorf faces six felony warrants for second-degree and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Second-degree exploitation includes duplicating material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity, and third-degree involves possessing such material.
A release from the sheriff’s office published Tuesday said an investigation of Westendorf began after receiving a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program in January of this year. ICAC task force members and local law enforcement worked together on the investigation before OCAS Sergeant Keith Goodwin arrested Westendorf Monday.
The local magistrate has ordered Westendorf to be held in the Orange County Detention Center without bond. A judge will determine his bond Tuesday afternoon.
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 image via Orange County Sheriff’s Office
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
![]()
Adopt-A-Pet: IanMeet Ian! He’s a two-year-old male, black and white domestic shorthair cat. He’s been at the Orange County Animal Shelter since February 6, 2017, and is looking for his forever home. Ian is part of the “Valentine’s Adoption” special, which means you can adopt this sweetie for just $50 during the month of February! Ron […]
Local Government Meetings: October 5-9, 2026This week in local government: Orange County Commissioners discuss data centers and property revaluation, while Carrboro talks composting.
Local Government Meetings: September 14-18, 2026This week in local government: a greenway network in Chapel Hill, and busing concerns and elementary school redistricting for CHCCS.
What's Open or Closed on Labor Day? Holiday to Impact Local Government ServicesMonday marks the observance of Labor Day, which is meant to celebrate the contribution of workers and employees across the United States. With that, the local governments in Orange County will be giving many of their employees the day off, which will affect certain local government services. Ahead of the holiday on Monday, Sep. 7, […]
How OWASA's Reclaimed Water System Extends the Lifespan of Local Water SourcesBuilt 17 years ago to improve the community’s drinking water resilience, it has saved the county billions of gallons of drinking water.
Celebration of Independence Day to Alter Local Government Services in Orange CountyThe celebration of Independence Day on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 will affect several local government services in and around Orange County. Here’s a look at what typical services will and won’t be happening during the weekend: Town of Chapel Hill All Chapel Hill administrative offices will be closed Friday, July 3, as […]
Drone Shows and Parades: Here's What to Know Before Orange County's July 4 CelebrationsA variety of July 4 festivities are set to take place across Orange County. Here's how local governments are celebrating.
Juneteenth Holiday to Affect Local Government Services Around Orange CountyAcross the country on Friday, Black Americans and communities will celebrate Juneteenth — the national recognition of when the final slaves were freed in the 19th century and of African-American culture. As a holiday, government services around the Orange County community will be affected on June 19 and the surrounding days. Here’s what residents can […]
Local Government Meetings: June 15-19, 2026This week in local government: a proposed AI moratorium in Durham and a board appointment (maybe) in Chatham County.
Carrboro Man Arrested, Charged With Sexual Exploitation of a MinorThe Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Carrboro man Monday and has charged him with multiple counts of sexual exploitation. 42-year-old Michael Robert Westendorf faces six felony warrants for second-degree and four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Second-degree exploitation includes duplicating material containing a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual […]
›
