6 arrested after online examination of sexual crime for children

Jackson County, NC (WLOS) – Six people are charged with children against children after a multi-day operation due to online crimes against children, according to the Sheriff's sheriff of Jackson County.

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The Sheriff's Office announced that it worked for several months with several agencies – including the Ministry of Homeland Protection and the State Bureau of Investigation – to “Operation The Creek”, an ICAC enforcement campaign for internet crimes against children (ICAC), which was carried out on May 5, 2025.

Six people were arrested during the operation and other suspects could be suspended. According to the authorities, some suspects could also be exposed to federal costs.

Detectives describe the man several cyberkind -sexual crimes

The suspects and their fees are listed below:

Brandon Scott Severt, 32, from Rowan County

Fees: Tried legal rape of child under the age of 15 and request a minor by computer
Binding: According to the Sheriff's office, Severt received a secure bond of $ 300,000.

Vincent John Lamonica, 53, from Transylvania County

Fees: Tried legal rape of child under the age of 15 and request a minor by computer
Binding: According to Sheriff's Office, Lamonica received a secure bond of $ 300,000.

Nathan Lewis Burch, 25, from Rutherford County

Fees: Tried legal rape of child under the age of 15, tried legal sexual offense with child 15, indecent freedom with the child and requirement of a minor by computer
Binding: According to the Sheriff's office, Burch received a secure bond of 350,000 US dollars.

Michael Glenn Lowe, 29, from Hamilton County, Tennessee

Fees: Tried legal rape of child under the age of 15, indecent freedom with the child, wear the request of a minor by computer and a hidden weapon
Binding: According to the Sheriff's office, Lowe received a secure deposit of 300,000 US dollars.

Jon Thomas Beall Jr., 32, from Knox County, Tennessee

Fees: Tried legal rape of the first degree, tried legal sexual offense with child under the age of 15, indecent freedom with the child and the request of a minor by computer
Binding: According to the Sheriff's office, Beall received a secure bond of $ 500,000.

Joshua Phillip Phelps, 28, from Stanly County

Fees: Tried legal rape of child under 15 years, tried legal sexual offense with child under the age of 15, indecent freedom with the child and the request of a minor by computer
Binding: According to the Sheriff's office, Phelps received a secure bond of $ 500,000.

“Sheriff Farmer and the committed team of the Sheriff office of Jackson County endeavor to protect children and ensure the security of all citizens of Jackson County,” said the Sheriff's office in a press release. “We are grateful for the strong relationships that we have built on local, state and federal level, which played a crucial role in the success of this operation.”

The Jackson County's office has attributed the following agencies to participation in “Operation Up the Creek”:

• Department of Homeland Security
• North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (Western District)
• North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation ICAC Task Force
• North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Information Sharing and Analysis Center
• Police department of Western Carolina University
• Huntersville police department
• Waynesville Police Department
• Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office
• Macon County's sheriff office
• Franklin Police Department
• District Prosecutor Ashley Hornsby Welch NC43 Prosecutor
• Lawyers' office of the United States Western District
• United States secret service
• North Carolina Forest Service
• Jackson County Emergency Management
• Jackson County 911 Communication Director
• Administrative employee Jackson County Sheriff's Office
• Harris Ems