CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Police have charged a 43-year-old man with sexual exploitation of a minor for the alleged possession and distribution of explicit material that involved children.
The suspect, Ala Areef Abukhalaf, was taken into custody in connection with an assault incident on Pineville-Matthews Road in south Charlotte. When police responded to the assault call, they found a teenage girl who claimed that Mr. Abukhalaf touched her without consent. Upon further investigation by the CMPD’s Cyber Crimes Unit, evidence allegedly linking the suspect to child exploitative material was uncovered. (Source: WBTV).
Mr. Abukhalaf is now being held in Mecklenburg County Jail and is facing five counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Assault on a Female.
In the state of North Carolina, a person can be charged with sexual exploitation of a minor for possession of or being involved with the production and distribution of sexually explicit or exploitative material involving a person under 18 years old. The penalties can range from 4 months to 10 years or more of prison time, depending on the degree of the charge, prior criminal history, and aggravating or mitigating factors. First-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class C felony, punishable by at least 44 months in prison. More on sexual exploitation here
If you are charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, call to get a free consultation with the attorneys at Marcilliat & Mills PLLC.
All individuals accused of crimes are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.