An 18-year-old Gastonia student is behind bars after investigators say they found videos of young children on his electronic devices. Court filings and local reporting state the clips involved elementary and middle school-age children, and prosecutors say the case is still very much active as detectives work to understand how the material was obtained and whether any additional victims are involved.
Court documents and local coverage identify the suspect as Colton Darrell Wray, 18, who was taken into custody on Wednesday, Feb. 11. According to Queen City News, court records show Wray is facing five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He was booked into the Gaston County Jail after his arrest and remains in custody, the outlet reports.
In the criminal filings, Wray is accused of possessing “several CSAM videos of elementary and middle school-age children,” language summarized in the documents and reported by Queen City News. The station also noted that the arrest came just days after Gastonia police had visited with some middle- and high-school students to talk about internet crimes and child pornography as part of recent outreach. Investigators have not publicly identified any victims by name and have not released further specifics while the probe continues.
How investigations like this proceed
Many cases involving online child sexual abuse material begin with cyber tips, then quickly move to search warrants and digital forensics on seized devices. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Computer Crimes Unit leads the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force, partnering with local and federal agencies on joint investigations and education efforts. The N.C. SBI notes that the task force combines technical forensic work with community outreach to track suspects and identify potential victims.
Next steps in court
Wray remains in custody at the Gaston County Jail while prosecutors prepare case filings and the court schedules his initial hearings. Public court records will show if and when the district attorney seeks indictments, along with the timetable for upcoming court dates. County detention information explains how booking and inmate records are made available to the public, and details about the facility where Wray is being held are posted by the Gaston County Sheriff's Office.
Resources for parents and students
Officials urge anyone with information about possible exploitation to contact local law enforcement or submit a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. The CyberTipline serves as the national clearinghouse for reports of suspected child sexual exploitation and offers guidance and resources for victims and families. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The case is developing, and investigators and prosecutors have not released additional details. This story will be updated as new court filings appear and officials provide further comment.
