Smithfield police say a 30-year-old local man is behind bars with no bond after investigators tied him to the online distribution of videos showing the sexual abuse of boys no older than 14.
Officers arrested Marcus Orion Sanchez on Tuesday following a cyber tip and a search warrant, and he now faces three counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Sanchez appeared in Johnston County court and was ordered held without bond while the case moves forward.
What police say
According to WRAL, Smithfield officers served a search warrant at Sanchez's home on Laurel Drive and seized multiple electronic devices as part of the investigation.
The arrest warrant alleges Sanchez used the Discord messaging app to knowingly distribute videos that depict sexual abuse involving boys between the ages of 9 and 14. Smithfield police say the probe is still active and that additional charges could be filed as digital evidence from those devices is examined.
How cyber tips and platforms lead investigators
The tip that kicked off the search is the kind typically handled through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, which reviews reports submitted by tech companies and forwards potentially actionable leads to local law enforcement, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Platforms including Discord say they rely on automated image hashing and Trust & Safety teams to identify possible child sexual abuse material and file reports to NCMEC that can spark police investigations, according to Discord.
Legal status and next steps
Under North Carolina law, second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor covers the knowing distribution or receipt of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexual activity and is classified as a Class E felony, according to the NC General Assembly.
Sanchez’s case remains open. Smithfield police say investigators will keep analyzing the seized devices, and prosecutors are expected to review the findings before formal charges are finalized, according to WRAL.
