A Mooresville man is facing serious charges after detectives from the Mooresville Police Department acted on a tip related to the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. The individual, identified as James Joel Letarte, 67, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts related to the sexual exploitation of a child, as disclosed in a post by the Mooresville Police Department on social media.
Following a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children associated with Letarte's internet account, a search warrant was executed at his home on 117 Holly Ridge Dr. Electronic devices were seized during the search, leading to the discovery of CSAM by computer forensic analysts working with the MPD, linking the material directly to Letarte. Initially arrested for two counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Child and two counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Letarte was subsequently rearrested after posting bond on July 16 for additional counts.
Letarte, who was held on a $50,000 secure bond after the first arrest, remains in custody at Iredell County Jail without bond following the second arrest. He has now been charged with 10 additional counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and also faces a charge of Resist, Delay, Obstruct a public officer.
