A Newton man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison following a child sex offense investigation in Burke County.

As WHKY previously reported, 25-year-old Gerson Antony Reyes Morales of Kilbourne Drive in Newton, was arrested on June 20, 2025, after law enforcement intercepted him in Morganton while he was allegedly attempting to meet with a 14-year-old victim for sexual acts.

Morales was initially charged with first-degree kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, soliciting a child by computer for sex acts, driving while license revoked, resisting a public officer, and attempted contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The Sheriff’s Office released details of the sentencing today (September 17). Morales was sentenced on Monday (September 14) to 168 to 262 months in the North Carolina Department of Correction for felony statutory sex offense with a child 15 or younger and felony indecent liberties with a minor.

The sentence amounts to 14 to nearly 22 years in prison. Morales remained in the Burke County Jail as of earlier today.