Lake Lure Sex Offender Arrested Again on New Exploitation Charges

LAKE LURE, N.C. — A registered sex offender already on probation is back behind bars after Rutherford County investigators say they found child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a tip on May 22 that led them to the Lake Lure home of Tucker Davis DeLoach, who was on probation for failing to register as a sex offender. Investigators executed a search warrant the next day at his residence on Sugar Bush Point, seizing multiple devices.

A forensic review uncovered images classified as child sexual abuse material, officials said. Warrants issued July 17 charged DeLoach with 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and four counts of failing to disclose online identifiers.

Deputies arrested him on August 19. He is being held under an $800,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court on August 25, according to NC Judicial Branch records.

DeLoach has a prior conviction history, including a 2019 arrest in Rock Hill, S.C., where deputies said they found images of girls as young as six on his Tumblr account.

“These types of cases are extremely complex and require extensive investigative hours,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, crediting the Lake Lure Police Department, N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, N.C. Probation and Parole, and the Rutherford County District Attorney’s Office, for assisting in the investigation.

Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg said his office has increased its capacity to investigate internet crimes against children by adding more trained investigators.

“Thanks to this increased capacity, we’ve made significant progress: clearing a backlog of cases, responding to new tips quickly, and taking a more proactive approach,” Ellenburg said. “As a reminder to all parents: be actively involved in your children’s online lives. Open communication and awareness are key to keeping our children safe.”