Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Investigation Leads to Arrest
Published on November 13, 2025
Roberto E. Bryan Jr.
Chief of Police
Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Sgt. A. Caldwell, Public Information Officer
Date: November 13, 2025 Phone: (910) 433-1487 OCA: 2025-024491
All suspects, and persons charged with a crime, are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Persons of interest are believed to have information relating to a case, and have not been charged unless stated otherwise.
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Investigation Leads to Arrest
(Fayetteville, NC) – On May 8, 2025, the Fayetteville Police Department received a report from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children of a suspect downloading child sexual assault material on his social media account.
The Fayetteville Police Department's Cybercrimes Unit assumed the investigation.
During the investigation, detectives identified the offender as Lars John Lafferty (White male, 35 years of age) of Fayetteville, N.C. The investigation revealed that Lafferty committed 19 counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
On November 6, 2025, Cybercrimes detectives obtained a warrant for the arrest of Lars John Lafferty charging him with the 19 counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.
On November 11, 2025, after a short standoff, Lafferty was taken into custody without incident. Lafferty is currently being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center under a $500,000.00 secured bond.
Suspicious or illegal online activity involving minors can be reported to local Law Enforcement or via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cybertip line at https://report.cybertip.org.
Anyone with information concerning a sexual assault case is asked to contact the Fayetteville Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit at (910) 433-1851 or Crimestoppers at (910) 483-TIPS (8477). If you have been, or are, a victim of sexual assault, victim advocates from the Phoenix Center work with detectives to ensure victims receive appropriate care and access to resources. The Phoenix Center can be reached at (910) 485-7273.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty
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