News release below provided by Gaston County Police:
GASTONIA, N.C. (December 17, 2025): Gaston County Police make an arrest involving the exploitation of children.
Ausburn Jerry Bridges, 54, of Bessemer City was arrested on December 16, 2025, by the Gaston County Police F.A.S.T (Fugitive Apprehension Suspect Tracking) team. Bridges has been charged with 20 counts of Second Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and 20 counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. He is in the Gaston County Jail on a hold, with no bond.
Ausburn Jerry Bridges
Gaston County Police investigators work jointly with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. All of the listed agencies are members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. The ICAC task force program helps local and State law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the internet, online communication, or other computer technology to sexually exploit children. The investigation focused on the downloading and sharing of digital images.
Chief Stephen Zill stated, “Crimes involving the exploitation of children are among the most disturbing offenses we investigate. Our message is clear: those who prey on children will be identified, pursued, and held fully accountable. I am proud of the dedicated work of our investigators and our partners at the SBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, whose collaboration is critical to protecting our most vulnerable victims.”
There is no additional information available for release.
Anyone with additional information on the incident is asked to call Detective R. Smith at 704-866-3320 or CrimeStoppers at 704-861-8000.
