Harnett County deputy out on bond after being arrested for sexually exploiting children

A Harnett County deputy was arrested Tuesday and charged with sexually exploiting children as young as seven years old.

35-year-old Johnathan Andrew Edwards was arrested and charged with 10 counts of felony first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of felony obstruction of justice.

According to arrest warrants obtained by WRAL News, Edwards sexually exploited multiple children ranging from the ages of 7 years old to 17 years old. The warrants said Edwards then destroyed digital evidence, which led to him being charged with obstruction of justice.

Edwards was originally being held in the Harnett County Detention Center under a $1 million bond. He made his first court appearance on Tuesday and was released on bond after the judge reduced the amount to $500,000.

The sheriff’s office said they were made aware of "possible misconduct" by Edwards in October, which is when they launched an internal investigation into the matter. Sheriff Wayne Coats requested that the State Bureau of Investigation assist with the investigation.

The sheriff’s office placed Edwards on administrative leave on Oct. 16. He was terminated on Nov. 30 for "violations of policy."

Edwards began working for the Harnett County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 17, 2013. Edwards was working in the patrol division at the time of his termination.

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.