Buncombe Man, 65, Faces 10 Felony Counts of Child Sexual Exploitation

A cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children set Buncombe County detectives in motion, culminating in the March 2 arrest of Bruce Ellison McCall, 65, on 10 felony counts related to child sexual abuse material.

McCall faces five counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office. Detectives say the charges stem from the alleged possession and duplication of child sexual abuse material.

He is currently held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $75,000 bond, according to the BCSO inmate catalog.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children operates a CyberTipline that allows internet service providers, electronic service providers, and members of the public to report suspected child sexual exploitation. Law enforcement agencies across the country, including the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, receive referrals through that system and are responsible for investigating tips that fall within their jurisdiction.

No court dates or arraignment information have been made public as of Tuesday. The Buncombe County District Attorney's Office has not issued a statement on the case. McCall is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.