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By Mike Barnhardt
Enterprise Record

Three Davie men have been charged with exploiting minors in a regional investigation that has been ongoing for months.
It started last November, when investigators from the Davie County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant to a residence on Calvin Lane. The N.C. Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the SBI, Homeland Security and the Liberty Police Department were involved in the investigation.
Multiple electronic devices were removed from the home, said Davie Sheriff J.D. Hartman. Those devices were examined to gain evidence related to child sexual abuse material.
Dakota Lee Barnett, 35, of Calvin Lane, was charged with four counts of second-degree exploitation of a minor, and was taken into custody in lieu of a $150,000 bond.
After the devices were searched, he was charged with an additional eight counts of third-degree sexual eploitation of a minor, and his bond was increased by $50,000.
“The investigation into Barnett’s activities is ongoing, and law enforcement agencies are working to identify any potential victims,” Hartman said. “Investigators will continue to analyze the seized digital evidence for any other links to online child exploitation.”
• On March 5, Floyd Malachi Wayne Sizemore, 23, turned himself in at the sheriff’s office, and was served with warrants charging him with 10 counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor. He was taken into custody in lieu of a $15,000 bond.
• On March 6, a search warrant was executed on Michael Francis Provost Jr., 23, of Annie Lane, Advance. He was charged nine counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor. He was taken into custody in lieu of a $15,000 bond.
The sheriff said that more charges could be made based on evidence found on seized digital devices. Anyone with information on such activities or this case is asked to call the sheriff’s criminal investigation division at 336-751-6238, or via email at Sheriff@dcsonc.com.