NEWTON, N.C. (WJZY) – Comedian Jon Reep was arrested Friday on several charges related to possession of child pornography.
Reep, 53, of Hickory, North Carolina, faces one count of second degree exploitation of a minor and nine counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a Hickory Police Dept. news release. The case had previously been submitted to the Grand Jury of Catawba County, which issued a bill of indictment on Sept. 2.
The Hickory Police Department says the investigation dates back to April 15, when officers received an online tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that concerned child sexual-abuse material. During the initial investigation, police said they learned the account flagged in the tip allegedly belonged to Reep.
Investigators, using a search warrant based on the location linked to the IP address, said they seized and forensically searched multiple electronic devices tied to the “Metro Jethro” comedian. The investigation also included online communications made from the same IP address, police said.
Reep’s total bond was set at $260,000, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8.
Reep rose to fame in 2004 as “the Hemi guy” in Dodge Ram commercials, and has been on a national tour this year. His film credits include “Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay” and he has a popular weekly podcast, “Carolina Reeper with Jon Reep.”
He was scheduled to perform in Goldsboro Friday night, but the venue says the show has been postponed.
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