David Neal Smith, courtesy of Lee County Sheriff’s Office

An 18 year old Sanford man has faces charges related to child pornography, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

David Neal Smith, 18, of 1226 Colon Road faces nine counts of second degree exploitation of a minor. A press release indicates Smith, who was arrested on Thursday, is accused of “distributing and receiving child pornography” between February and March of this year.

According to the sheriff’s office, the investigation was aided by the Sanford Police Department, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Smith was placed in the Lee County Jail under $500,000 secured bond.