Police Investigate Crimes Against Children
Gastonia, NC (August 27, 2026): Gaston County Police make an arrest involving the exploitation of children.
Malikai Lee Hampton, 21, of Mount Holly, was arrested on August 27, 2026, by the Gaston County Police F.A.S.T (Fugitive Apprehension Suspect Tracking) team. Hampton has been charged with 7 counts of Second-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and 7 counts of Third-Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He is in the Gaston County Jail on a $150,000.00 secured bond.
Gaston County Police investigators work jointly with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. All of the listed agencies are members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. The ICAC task force program helps local and State law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the internet, online communication, or other computer technology to exploit children sexually. The investigation focused on the downloading and sharing of digital images.
“Crimes involving the exploitation of children are among the most important cases our detectives investigate, and our message to those who prey on children is clear: we will identify you, we will find you, and we will hold you accountable,” said Chief Stephen Zill. “I am proud of the relentless work of our investigators and the strong partnerships we have with the SBI, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and our fellow ICAC partners. This collaboration is critical to bringing offenders to justice, protecting children, and preventing further victimization.”
This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional information is available for release.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to call Detective J. Waldrop at 704-866-3320 or CrimeStoppers at 704-861-8000.
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