A North Carolina man is facing multiple felony charges in North Carolina after authorities say he picked up a missing juvenile in Fairfield and transported her across state lines.
On August 17, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina was contacted by the Fairfield Police Department regarding a missing female juvenile from Fairfield. Fairfield Police determined through their investigation that the girl had been in contact with a man through texting applications and that he had driven her from Fairfield to Rockingham County.
Deputies located the juvenile at a residence on Willow Street in Reidsville, North Carolina, along with 25-year-old John Michael Johnson. Detectives and the Rockingham County Department of Social Services responded to the scene, beginning a joint investigation.
Following an interview with Johnson and consultation with the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office, Johnson was charged with felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and felony solicitation by computer. He was taken before a magistrate and issued an $850,000 secure bond. Johnson is scheduled to appear in Rockingham County District Court on August 26, 2025.
Authorities confirmed the juvenile’s parents were notified. She is currently in the care of Rockingham County Department of Social Services until her parents can take custody.
The investigation remains ongoing with cooperation between the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfield Police Department, and the Invictus Task Force—a multi-county partnership that includes the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security, focused on combating internet crimes against children, sexual abuse, trafficking, and online exploitation. Officials said additional charges are expected.
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page urged parents nationwide to remain vigilant. “Individuals will use current technologies such as messaging applications and other internet-accessible means to not only conduct scams, but also to exploit and prey on our children. We are seeing this activity far too often now. I would implore parents to be vigilant and involved in monitoring cell phone and internet usage by their children,” Page said.
Sheriff Page also thanked the Fairfield Police Department, the Invictus Task Force, the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office, and Rockingham County Social Services for their assistance.