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Boone Police Make Cyber Predator Arrest, Man Charged for Sexual Exploitation of Minor

Jan. 13, 2015. On Jan. 12, the Boone Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation closed an ongoing cyber investigation. This 10-week investigation was a proactive attempt by the Boone Police Department to catch individuals that seek to victimize children of Boone online.

Short
Short

A Boone Police Detective posted an online profile that identified the detective as a 14-year-old girl in Boone on a popular social media site. The detective operated the site as a normal girl that age would. Within five days of posting the new profile, the suspect made contact through a chatting program.

The detective did nothing to instigate contact with the suspect or entice him. During the interactions with the detective, whom he thought was a 14-year-old girl, the suspect committed several legal violations of a sexual nature.

“This is an example of the Boone Police Department doing everything we can to keep our children safe. This case identified and put a stop to serious online threat to our children,” Boone Police Chief Dana Crawford said.

“This case, and the recent arrest of a local man luring a young child into a store restroom, demonstrates that this threat is real. We want to assure our community we are being pro-active in protecting our children. We would like to thank Watauga County District Attorney’s Office and the NC State Bureau of Investigation Computer Crimes Unit for their forensic support and assistance in this case.”

David William Short, 36, of 225 Broad Street in Shelby, was arrested and charged with:

  • One count of Felony Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
  • One count of Felony Soliciting a Child by Computer.
  • One count of Felony Dissemination of Obscenity.

Short’s court date was scheduled for Feb. 19, 2015, and his conditions of release were set as a $75,000 secured bond.