JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — A Jacksonville man is facing serious charges, including child trafficking and sexual exploitation, following an investigation that began with a runaway juvenile report in June 2023.
According to the Jacksonville Police Department, the initial report led to the discovery of the missing juvenile in Wilmington, North Carolina, in the company of 21-year-old Dezmon Price-Williams. At the time, Price-Williams was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
In 2024, the investigation escalated with charges of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Subsequent efforts by authorities uncovered two additional juvenile victims connected to Price-Williams.
On April 9, 2025, Price-Williams was formally charged with multiple felony offenses, including:
Two counts of human trafficking a child victim
Second-degree kidnapping
Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor
Third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor
Price-Williams is currently held under a $500,000 bond. The case remains under investigation as authorities work to identify any additional victims and gather further evidence.
