Fayetteville Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

A lengthy investigation by the Fayetteville Police Department’s Cybercrimes Unit has led to the arrest of a local man on multiple felony charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor.

The case began on May 8, 2025, when the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report indicated that a suspect was allegedly downloading child sexual assault material onto a social media account.

The investigation was immediately taken over by the FPD's dedicated Cybercrimes Unit. Detectives worked to identify the individual behind the activity, eventually naming the offender as Lars John Lafferty, a 35-year-old White male residing in Fayetteville.

The investigation concluded that Lafferty had allegedly committed 19 counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

On November 6, 2025, Cybercrimes detectives secured an arrest warrant for Lars John Lafferty, charging him with all 19 felony counts.

Lafferty was taken into custody on November 11, 2025. Authorities confirmed that the arrest followed a short standoff, but the suspect was ultimately detained without incident.

Lafferty is currently being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $500,000.00 secured bond.

Law enforcement stresses the importance of reporting any suspicious or illegal online activity involving minors. These incidents can be reported to local Law Enforcement or through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cybertip line at https://report.cybertip.org.

Resources for Victims and Tips:

Anyone with information regarding a sexual assault case is urged to contact the Fayetteville Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit at (910) 433-1851 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477).

For victims of sexual assault, advocates from the Phoenix Center are available to provide appropriate care and access to resources, working closely with FPD detectives. The Phoenix Center can be reached at (910) 485-7273.