Newport woman charged in child exploitation case

A Newport woman was arrested Thursday, August 22, and is charged with 15 counts related to sexual exploitation of a minor.

Molly Dianne Neal, 44, was arrested after a search was conducted at her home.

According to the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, Neal is charged following an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. The investigation was conducted by the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office Crimes Against Children Unit with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.

Equipment used to facilitate crimes was seized.

Neal is being held in the Carteret County Detention Center on a $5,000,000 bond and is charged with 15 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.