19-year-old Mooresville man charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — The Mooresville Police Department arrested a 19-year-old Mooresville man and charged him with five counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor following an investigation that began with a cyber tip. 

On October 2, 2026, the department began investigating a tip that apparent child sexual abuse material (CSAM) had been distributed or received from an account located within the Town of Mooresville. Investigators determined the account belonged to Hunter Ryan Freeze, 19, of Mooresville. Search warrants executed on Freeze’s accounts returned information confirming his identity as the account holder.

On October 13, 2026, officers executed search warrants at two Mooresville residences associated with Freeze, one on Limerick Road and one on Pleasant Grove Lane, and seized multiple electronic communication and storage devices. Forensic examination of the devices at the Mooresville Police Department located multiple CSAM files.

Freeze was subsequently charged with five counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and taken to the Iredell County Jail, where he received a $150,000 bond.

The Mooresville Police Department takes crimes against children very seriously and is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our community’s youth. Parents and guardians are encouraged to monitor their children’s online activity and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement immediately.

Anyone with information about this case or other suspected child exploitation is asked to contact the Mooresville Police Department at 704-664-3311.