What started as an open 911 line from a Cherryville Burger King on April 22 ended with a local man in jail on child sexual exploitation charges, according to police. Investigators say they first seized a cellphone at the restaurant, then later executed a search warrant at a nearby home, where they report finding illegal images and other materials. The suspect has been booked on state sexual exploitation charges and is being held in the Gaston County Jail.
Cherryville officers were dispatched to the Burger King on East Church Street after the open 911 call, and detectives confiscated a phone that was sent for forensic review, according to WSOC. Police say what they found on that device led them to obtain a search warrant for a residence on West Church Street. Investigators say files recovered from both the phone and the home became the backbone of the case.
How investigators say the case unfolded
An arrest warrant reviewed by WCNC alleges that the suspect photographed two children engaging in sexual acts with one another. Detectives used cellphone forensics to flag material that, they say, justified the residential search on West Church Street. According to the warrant and police statements, investigators recovered illegal images and additional materials during the searches.
Charges and custody
Authorities arrested 50-year-old John Gerald Hadaway of Cherryville and charged him with one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, local outlets reported. WCCB reports that Hadaway is being held without bond at the Gaston County Jail because of an existing probation or parole status. Court filings reviewed by reporters also note a prior Iredell County conviction for larceny by employee and say he is accused of violating parole conditions, according to WCNC.
What the charges mean under state law
Under North Carolina law, second-degree sexual exploitation (N.C.G.S. § 14-190.17), which covers recording or distributing material that depicts a minor engaged in sexual activity, is classified as a Class E felony, according to the North Carolina General Assembly. Third-degree sexual exploitation (N.C.G.S. § 14-190.17A) focuses on possession of such material and is treated as a Class H felony. Legal summaries note that convictions under these statutes can lead to jail time and require registration as a sex offender, per FindLaw. The case is expected to move through Gaston County courts as investigators and prosecutors continue to review the evidence.
Cherryville police say the investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released additional details about alleged victims or upcoming court dates. This story will be updated as new filings or official statements become available.
