MOORESVILLE, NC – A Mooresville man is facing multiple felony charges following an investigation by the Mooresville Police Department (MPD) into the possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
On July 11, 2025, MPD detectives executed a search warrant at a residence located at 117 Holly Ridge Drive. The investigation was initiated after the department’s Criminal Investigations Division received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip was linked to an internet account belonging to 67-year-old James Joel Letarte.
During the search, investigators seized numerous electronic devices from the home. Forensic analysis conducted by MPD’s computer crimes unit revealed extensive CSAM content directly linked to Letarte.
As a result, Letarte was initially arrested and charged with two counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Child and two counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He was booked into the Iredell County Jail and held on a $50,000 secured bond.
After posting bond, Letarte was arrested again on July 16, 2025, following the discovery of additional evidence. He now faces 10 additional counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, as well as a charge of Resist, Delay, and Obstruct a Public Officer.
Letarte is currently being held at the Iredell County Jail with no bond. The investigation is ongoing.
