Monroe man terminated from JCC amid child exploitation charges

CHARLOTTE — A 33-year-old former employee at the Levine Jewish Community Center is facing child exploitation charges in Union County, officials and law enforcement said.

Joseph Velez of Monroe worked in the aquatics department at the JCC and was arrested for exploitation charges, JCC officials said.

They have notified people who participate in the department.

“There is no indication that any of these offenses occurred at the JCC, and his employment was immediately terminated after learning of the charges,” officials said.

They said they are cooperating with law enforcement. JCC officials said Velez passed a thorough background check. He even attended child abuse and prevention training.

“The suspect’s not been charged with anything that would be considered a hands-on offense with a child at this point,” said UCSO Lt. James Maye. “These are all offenses that have occurred using online platforms, search engines, things like that.”

The Union County Sheriff’s Office is working with the State Bureau of Investigation on another child exploitation investigation involving the suspect.

In late February, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent detectives information regarding the possession and distribution of sexually explicit images of children from online accounts linked to Velez.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Velez’s home and seized multiple electronic devices.

Velez allegedly had photos and video of girls under the age of 10 and 3. The videos showed sexual activity and rape, according to the arrest warrant.

“The big message here, and the big message for people doing this, is that you may be in a dark room in your house, but what you’re doing will be found out ultimately,” “Maye said.

Investigators in Union County charged Velez with 20 counts of felony second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. He is being held at the jail under a $2 million secured bond.

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