Man Arrested in Child Sex Crime Case After Attempting to Leave Country

On May 1, 2025, New Hanover County deputies arrested 32-year-old Matthew Lawson after he attempted to flee the country in the wake of a child sex crime investigation. Deputies were alerted when Lawson’s passport was flagged by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a person of interest in an active warrant for child sexual exploitation.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Lawson’s residence on Bryson Drive, where they discovered electronic devices containing explicit images and videos involving minors. Law enforcement officials confirmed that forensic analysis of the devices linked him to the production and distribution of child pornography dating back to late 2023.

Lawson was taken into custody at Wilmington International Airport just hours before his scheduled flight to Costa Rica. He is currently being held at the New Hanover County Detention Facility under a $1,000,000 secured bond.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO), in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), is leading the ongoing probe. SBI agents reported that additional evidence—later seized in a digital forensics lab—indicates Lawson may have shared illicit material with contacts in multiple states.

Sheriff’s spokesperson Marissa Barnes emphasized that “Lawson’s attempt to evade prosecution only strengthens our resolve to bring all involved parties to justice.” Authorities urge anyone with information related to this case to contact the NHCSO tip line.