Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: On Thursday June 14, a report was filed with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, by the parent of a minor child, stating the child had received concerning text messages from Arnold Joe Eberhart.  The report was assigned to Detective Sergeant Katie Harwell of the Special Victim’s Unit for investigation. 

It was determined through the investigation, Eberhart had sent multiple text messages to a 12 year old female in an attempt to entice her to come meet him at a location near her home. The text messages were sexual in nature and discussed about how Eberhart would like for her to meet him outside and how he wanted to commit a sexual act. 

Based on all the evidence gathered in this case, Sergeant Harwell obtained a Felony Warrant for Eberhart’s arrest for the offense of Soliciting Child by Computer

Eberhart was arrested on Sunday June 24, 2018 by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. He was severed with the warrant of Felony Soliciting Child by Computer.  Eberhart was given an 8,000.00 dollars secure bond by a Rowan County magistrate.

Eberhart was placed on the Rowan County Sex Offender Registry for one count of Second Degree Rape which occurred in 1995.  He was released from the North Carolina Department of Corrections in 2003 and placed on the sex offender registry.

Criminal History:  Misdemeanor Injury to Personal Property, Two Counts of Misdemeanor Probation Violation, Misdemeanor Assault on a Female, Misdemeanor Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Felony Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance, Felony Second Degree Rape, Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Three Counts of Felony Breaking and Entering, Three Counts of Felony Larceny by Employee, Felony Failure to Notify Address Change by Sex Offender, and Felony Habitual Breaking and Entering.