Date/Time of Offense: Tuesday, July 21, 2020.

Offense(s)/Charge(s): Three Counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

Location of Incident: Southern Iredell County.

Suspect(s): Austin Jay Zivich, 26 Years Old

                   245 Valleyview Road

                   Mooresville, North Carolina 28115

Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: On Friday, October 2, 2020, detectives with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit received information from a CyberTip which had been received by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations.  Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit Detectives verified the images, and obtained a search warrant for possible suspect account information. 

 After receiving the information necessary to continue the investigation, Detective J. Wabel continued with the investigation. Detective Wabel reviewed the information and images, and determined the images were child pornography.

 Based on all the evidence gathered during the investigation, Det. J. Wabel obtained arrest warrants for Austin Jay Zivich for three counts of Felony Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

 On Monday, November 29, 2021, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Squad, Deputy Hodges located Zivich and served the arrest warrants. Zivich was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center where he appeared before Magistrate M. Nethken who issued a 50,000.00