Rutherford County Man Charged in Child Exploitation Investigation

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an Ellenboro man following a weeks-long investigation into reported child exploitation materials.

According to investigators, members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a cyber tip on October 16 reporting “known” child exploitation material traced to a residence at 156 Fairfax Drive in Ellenboro. After reviewing the information, investigators obtained a search warrant and searched the home on October 20, seizing multiple electronic devices.

A forensic examination of those devices uncovered additional images classified as Child Sexual Abuse Material beyond those initially flagged in the cyber tip, officials said.

On December 9, warrants were issued for John Fitzgerald Slattery, who now faces 10 counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He was arrested the same day and is being held on a $250,000 secured bond.

The Sheriff’s Office noted that child exploitation cases are highly complex and require extensive resources, emphasizing its commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable.