NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A Castle Hayne man has received a multi-million-dollar bond for more than two dozen charges of sex crimes involving minors.
Jason Thomas Brannan, 37, received five felony counts — two for statutory sex offense with a child and three for indecent liberties with a child — for incidents that took place in June 2019.
This week the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office brought forth an additional 24 charges, including:
- 8 counts of First Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
- 8 counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
- 8 counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
First-degree sexual exploitation of a minor indicates the person charged engaged in a live performance of lewd activity of a minor to create photographs or videos. Arrest records reveal Brannan had a 12-year-old under his custody and fondled her breasts for an image taken last June. The year before, in March 2023, he allegedly created photos of an 11-year-old in the same context, as well as engaging oral sex on him.
Other incidents date back to December 2022 and February 2024, including material Brannan possessed of younger girls in sexually compromised activities (third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor), in some instances distributing or replicating the material (second degree).
The investigation is ongoing as NHCSO detectives continue to look through seized materials after executing a search warrant at Brannan’s residence.
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