ASHEBORO NC – A local man is in jail under a one million dollar bond after Investigators with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office say he was found with a missing/runaway child and child pornography.
According to a press release by the The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, their Criminal Investigation Division Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) received a tip that an individual by the name of Ethan William Colbert was distributing child pornography and that he was engaged in sexual relationships with juvenile females.
On August 16th, 2021, Deputies received a call about a missing/runaway child. The Sheriff’s office says that the child was located with Colbert. Detectives learned that Colbert and the child had been involved in a sexual relationship.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office obtained warrants for Colbert on September 21, 2021. He was arrested and served with nine counts of Felony Disseminating Obscene Material to a Minor, seven counts of Felony Second Degree Exploitation of a Minor, one count of Felony First Degree Exploitation of a Minor, one count of Felony Statutory Rape of a Child, and one count of Felony Statutory Sex Offense of a Child. He is currently being held under a $1,000,000 bond at the Randolph County Jail and his first appearance is set for September 23, 2021, in Randolph County District Court
The Sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Ethan William Colbert
- Seven counts of Felony Second Degree Exploitation of a Minor
- Felony First Degree Exploitation of a Minor
- Felony Statutory Rape of a Child
- Felony Statutory Sex Offense of a Child
$1,000,000 bound