Peachtree – Corey Benjamin Sneed, 39, of the Peachtree community, was charged with 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
The charges stem from his alleged possession and distribution of material depicting minors in sexually explicit situations, Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith said.
The investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received CyberTips (CT) from Google and MeetMe, which reported that Sneed had uploaded suspected child sexual abuse material.
The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Detective with Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office reviewed the CyberTip and confirmed that the images met the criteria for second- and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor under North Carolina law.
On Aug. 15, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes Unit, executed a search warrant at Sneed’s residence. It resulting in the seizure of electronic devices, including several cell phones.
Sneed was questioned by detectives during the search. Forensic analysis conducted by Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office identified multiple files on his devices containing child sexual abuse material. Based on this evidence, warrants were obtained against Sneed on Aug. 20, and he was later taken into custody without incident at his residence.
Sneed is being held at the Cherokee County Detention Center under two bonds, one of $100,000 secured and the other being no bond.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office urges parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities. For resources on protecting children and reporting suspicious activities, please visit missingkids.org.
If you have information concerning this case or other child exploitation cases, contact Detective Nolan Queen at 828-835-4975.