Convicted Sex Offender Charged Following Alleged Arden Break-In and Indecent Exposure

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. — A registered sex offender with an extensive criminal history is facing multiple felony charges following an investigation into an alleged break-in and indecent exposure incident in the Arden area.

According to the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, 46-year-old Terry Lee Branks has been charged with failing to register as a sex offender, indecent exposure, first-degree burglary, and felony larceny after breaking and entering.

Deputies said they began investigating on May 22 after receiving reports of a man exposing himself near the Ledbetter Road and Daphne Drive area. Investigators allege Branks exposed himself and engaged in lewd behavior on a dirt road behind a resident's home.

During the investigation, deputies also received a report that someone had entered a home while the occupants were asleep and stolen several items, including a backpack, wallets, and makeup. Authorities said some of the stolen property was later recovered.

The sheriff's office said Branks, who lives in the area where the incidents occurred, was identified as a suspect with assistance from members of the community.

Investigators also determined Branks was not in compliance with the requirements to verify his address with the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry.

Court records indicate Branks has a criminal history spanning Buncombe, Henderson, and Gaston counties dating back to the early 2000s. Previous convictions include assault on a female, indecent liberties with a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and prior violations of sex offender registration requirements.

The investigation remains ongoing.