Knightdale man arrested after online child-pornography investigation, police say

Police have arrested a man they say possessed child pornography.

Ryan George Watkins, 35, was arrested by Knightdale police Tuesday, according to a Police Department news release.

Investigators say they received a tip in February from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about images depicting children in sexual situations with adults being uploaded in Knightdale. They traced the tip to a home on Aqua Marine Lane, saying the uploads happened in December, according to the release.

Police raided the home and seized three electronic devices, which contained videos and photographs depicting children engaged in sexual activity, the release said.

Investigators do not believe the children are from Knightdale. No children were living in the home and the photos do not include any of the individuals living in the home, the release said.

Watkins was charged with 11 counts of second-degree child exploitation, police say. He was being held in the Wake County jail under a $350,000 secured bail.

This story was originally published April 18, 2019 at 5:17 PM.