Full Notification

According to Yancey County Sheriff Gary Banks, Sean Neilson Masten, 33, of 170 Trout Lily Road in Burnsville, has been arrested and charged with several sex offenses.
This arrest comes as a result of a joint investigation between the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office and the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office. The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office received a report last week regarding the possible sex abuse of a child who resides in Yancey County. Officers conducted the initial investigation and determined that the sexual abuse of the child had occurred in McDowell County.
Investigators then contacted McDowell County officers and made them aware of the report. Officers from both departments worked together and served a search warrant at the home of Masten in Yancey County in an attempt to recover evidence related to the crime committed in McDowell County.
During the execution of the search warrant, officers seized several items of computer-related media which contained hundreds of files of child pornography.
Masten was charged with one count of first-degree sex offense on a child under 13 years old, two counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. This investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.
Masten is being held in the McDowell County jail under a total secured bond of $275,000.