Authorities say a Raleigh man is headed to prison after workers on a Garner construction site stumbled onto a disturbing surveillance setup that ultimately led investigators to child pornography.
Court records state that Andrew Charles Belter, 34, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty to installing hidden cameras inside a Garner home that was under construction and to possessing child pornography. A judge sentenced him on separate counts, and he began serving his jail term on May 20, 2026. Investigators say construction workers first found the concealed devices, and a follow-up probe uncovered illicit images tied to Belter.
Sentencing and court orders
According to CBS17, court records show Belter pleaded guilty on April 28 to felony secret peeping, felony breaking and entering and misdemeanor stalking in the hidden-camera case. In a separate child-pornography case, he admitted to nine counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
The same records say the judge sentenced him on the sexual-exploitation counts to a prison term with a minimum of one year and eight months and a maximum of seven years. On the hidden-camera charges, he received a separate sentence of at least six months and up to one year and five months.
Belter was also ordered to surrender any devices that contained illegal images, pay $4,661 in fees and restitution, register as a sex offender and have no contact with the victim, the outlet reported.
How investigators say they caught him
Garner police arrested Belter after construction workers spotted something that did not look quite right inside the home, which was still being built. Local reporting from last fall states that they found small cameras hidden inside nonworking electrical outlets.
WRAL reported that the devices appeared to be tucked into 3D-printed boxes, designed to blend in with the walls. A computer-crimes specialist with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation later traced illicit images back to Belter, according to the report.
Police booked him into the Wake County Detention Center, and as digital-forensics work continued, prosecutors added several counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.
Court conditions and treatment orders
Per court records cited by CBS17, the judge went beyond prison time and financial penalties. Belter must undergo a mental-health assessment and take part in the state's SOAR (Sex Offender Accountability and Responsibility) program, which is designed to monitor offenders and lower the risk of reoffending while they serve their sentences.
Prosecutors and investigators declined to release the exact address of the Garner house, citing the privacy of the victim. They also said that evidence recovered from digital devices remains under review.
What neighbors and buyers should know
Cases like this can rattle homeowners, renters and would-be buyers, especially when they unfold in otherwise quiet neighborhoods. Authorities urge people to stay alert during construction, open houses and showings, particularly in homes packed with new fixtures and wiring.
Law enforcement officials recommend checking for odd or unnecessary wiring, outlets that do not seem to work or devices that do not match the rest of the property. When something looks off, they suggest using basic camera-detection tools or asking a contractor or electrician to inspect anything suspicious.
Anyone with additional information about this investigation was asked to contact Garner police or the SBI, as reported by WRAL.
