Person County sheriff’s deputies arrested David Wayne Gunter, 44, of 80 Lazy Creek Ln. on the charges Friday.

Gunter was initially held on a $200,000 secured bond, however, after making a first appearance in Person County District Court he was released under a $200,000 unsecured bond, pending his next court appearance.

Deputies reportedly searched Gunter’s home last month after receiving information from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

SBI authorities were reportedly contacted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who had received information from Internet provider AOL.

According to sheriff’s investigator Todd Dunn, Gunter had reportedly “sent an email to someone with child porn in it using AOL.”
Deputies obtained a search warrant on July 11 and on that day seized two CDs from the residence.

“Those two CDs had about 385 images of child porn and 500 images of child erotica,” Dunn said. Other pornographic material also was seized, according to Dunn.

Deputies also confiscated the hard drive from Gunter’s computer, but it had yet to be searched, Dunn said this week.

 “At this time, it is safe to say the investigation is continuing,” said Dunn, adding that further charges could be pending.

According to North Carolina law, “A person commits the offense of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor if, knowing the character or content of the material, he possessed material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity.”

Third degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class I felony in North Carolina.