***Breaking News*** Taylorsville Man Charged With Child-Sex Related Crimes

The Alexander County Sheriff’s Office along with North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and West Virginia State Police have charged a Taylorsville man with multiple felony child-sex related crimes.

20-year old Mario Mendoza Cazarez of Taylorsville was taken into custody on Monday. Cazarez was charged with 27-counts of felony second degree sexual exploitation of a minor. The charges are the result of a six month ongoing investigation. According to a news release from the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, the charges were filed after sexually explicit images of children were found in Cazarez’s possession.

Cazarez is being held under a $520,000 secured bond in the Alexander County Detention Center. A first court appearance is scheduled for Monday, March 22, 2021 in Alexander County District Court.

In the release Sheriff Chris Bowman thanked the agencies involved in assisting in this investigation and praised their hard work and dedication to protecting our children.

Photo: Alexander County Sheriff’s Office