News

Mills River man charged with exploitation of a minor

John Thomas Duncan

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 17, 2025

A 37-year-old Mills River man, John Thomas Duncan, was charged with two counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor on Wednesday after a special task force of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the SBI and Department of Homeland executed a search warrant at a home in Mills River, the sheriff’s office said.

Under North Carolina law, a  second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor charge can be brought when a person knowingly records, photographs, films, develops or duplicates material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity, distributes, transports, exhibits, receives, sells, purchases, exchanges or solicits material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaged in sexual activity or that has been created, adapted or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaged in sexual activity.

Describing the investigation as ongoing the sheriff’s office said it had no further information at this time.