Goldsboro, N.C. – (May 20) — A Wayne County man has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to the possession of child sexual abuse material following an investigation by state and local authorities.
On May 16, 2025, members of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence of Jonathan Marvin Howard, 26, resulting in his arrest on eight felony counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
The investigation was launched after multiple Cybertips were received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). These tips reported suspected child sexual abuse material linked to digital activity traced to Howard. According to authorities, the evidence gathered during the investigation confirmed that Howard was in possession of electronic media depicting child sexual exploitation.
Howard was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Wayne County Detention Center. He is currently being held on a $200,000 secured bond.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is an active member of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (NC ICAC) Task Force, a statewide initiative that partners with local, state, and federal agencies to combat the online exploitation of minors. NC ICAC is part of a broader national network of task forces dedicated to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting individuals involved in internet-based crimes against children.
Authorities have not released additional details at this time, as the investigation is ongoing.
Arrest Details:
- Name: Jonathan Marvin Howard
- Age: 26
- Race/Sex: White / Male
- Charges: 8 Counts of Felony Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
- Bond: $200,000 Secured
Anyone with further information related to this case or other potential incidents is encouraged to contact the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
