By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
A Richmond County man is due in Moore County District Court next month to face 12 felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Keith Alexander Andrews, a Mangum man with a Mt. Gilead address, was arrested by Moore County sheriff’s deputies in May after a family member of a Montgomery County 16-year-old female told police of an inappropriate relationship.
Andrews faces six counts of first-degree exploitation and six counts of third-degree exploitation. Lieut. Cathy Williams, of the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, said Andrews owned and operated a fruit stand on State Route 211 and the alleged incident took place there on May 11. Online records with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture list a Keith Alexander Andrews as owner of Andrews Farm Produce, 6527 Grassy Island Road, also in Mt. Gilead.
State law indicates a person is guilty of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor if that person:
Uses, employs, induces, coerces, encourages, or facilitates a minor to engage in or assist others to engage in sexual activity for a live performance or for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity; or permits a minor under his custody or control to engage in sexual activity for a live performance or for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity; or transports or finances the transportation of a minor through or across this state with the intent that the minor engage in sexual activity for a live performance or for the purpose of producing material that contains a visual representation depicting this activity; or records, photographs, films, develops or duplicates for sale or pecuniary gain material that contains a visual representation depicting a minor engaged in sexual activity.
Likewise, a person is guilty of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor if that person, knowing the character or content of the material, he possesses material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity. Mistake of age is not a defense to prosecution.
Williams declined to offer details of the case in order to protect the identity of the victim.
Andrews was held on $10,000 bond and confined at Moore County Detention Center. He is expected in Moore County District Court on Aug. 4.
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