The Gaston County Police Department has charged and arrested Ronnie Lee Stafford, of Bessemer City, with 12 counts of exploitation of a minor related to an Internet Crimes Against Children Case. On Wednesday, 5/31/23, Detectives from the Gaston County Police Criminal Investigations Unit charged Stafford with 6 felony counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and 6 felony counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Detectives requested assistance from the Gaston County Police Department’s Fugitive Apprehension and Suspect Tracking (FAST) team in apprehending Stafford. FAST team officers located and arrested Stafford the following morning in the area of Shannon Bradley Road in Gastonia.
The Gaston County Police Department takes cases involving minors very seriously, and the continued arrest of these suspects is a reminder that those involved in such activities will be brought to justice. Gaston County Police Chief Stephen Zill stated, “We will continue to work tirelessly to identify and hold accountable those who seek to harm children. The arrest of this suspect is a testament to the dedicated and skilled work of our detectives and fugitive team.” Stafford is being held at the Gaston County Jail on a $252,500 secured bond.
There is no further information to be released at this time.
Ronnie Stafford