35-year-old James Matthew Johnson of Boone was arrested by Boone Police on June 29. He was initially charged with five counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and three counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Today (July 11), as a result of further investigation, Johnson was also charged with two counts of statutory sex offense with a person who is 15 years of age or younger and one count of indecent liberties with a child.

The Boone Police Department is a member of the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse or the exploitation of children. Johnson was arrested as the result of an investigation conducted by Boone Police into the sexual exploitation of minors on the internet. He is accused of producing, duplicating, and possessing child sexual abuse materials.

Following his arrest, Johnson was jailed under a $1,500,000 secured bond. He’ll appear in District Court on July 25 and on August 18 in Boone.