Exclusive details: Repeat sex offender arrested after 'encounter' on Thermal Belt Rail Trail
Danny Poole, 36, recently released from prison, was arrested twice this spring — first for failing to report his address, then for 10 counts of possessing CSAM
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A registered sex offender has been behind bars in Rutherford County since May after officers discovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone and tablet during an “encounter” on the Thermal Belt Rail Trail, a popular walking path also known as Rails to Trails. I was the only journalist to report his arrest at the time.
The suspect, Danny Poole, 37, now faces multiple felony charges stemming from a months-long investigation.
Poole, a convicted child sex offender who spent 15 years behind bars, was arrested twice within weeks of his March release, according to records obtained by Cops & Congress.
Court and jail records confirm Poole was first taken into custody on April 14 for failing to report his current address, a violation of North Carolina’s sex offender registry requirements. He was released on May 6, then re-arrested on May 9, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center records.
Yesterday, police said that on April 12, 2025, officers with the Spindale Police Department made contact with Poole along the trail, which some critics have dubbed a "homeless highway" due to safety concerns and prior incidents (read previous Cops & Congress coverage).
During the interaction, officers obtained Poole’s consent to search his phone and tablet. While reviewing the devices, officers reportedly saw images that appeared to be consistent with CSAM. Poole was arrested at the time on unrelated charges, and his devices were seized. A search warrant was later obtained to conduct a deeper forensic analysis, police said.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division took over the case, and after a full extraction of the devices, investigators found multiple explicit images involving minors.
On May 9, 2025, investigators secured warrants and coordinated with Cleveland County law enforcement to arrest Poole. He was transferred into Rutherford County custody and is currently being held at the Rutherford County Detention Center on a $300,000 secured bond.
A grand jury returned indictments on June 23, 2025, charging Poole with:
10 counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
1 count of Failure to Register a Social Media Account as a Sex Offender, a violation of North Carolina’s registry laws.
Notably, Poole had only been on the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry since March 2025, raising concerns about the enforcement and monitoring of newly listed offenders.
The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office publicly thanked the Spindale Police Department for their quick action on the trail, saying:
“This is just another example of teamwork leading to successful cases.”
Cops & Congress previously scooped Poole’s arrest in May. Read the original exclusive here: SCOOP: Repeat sex offender arrested twice, weeks after prison release, records show.
Background
The Thermal Belt Rail Trail stretches through several towns in Rutherford County and has become a focal point of both community investment and public safety concerns. Incidents including assaults, overdoses, and a high-profile shooting last year have prompted locals to call for increased law enforcement presence.
Legal Context
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. §14-190.17A, 3rd-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class H felony punishable by up to 39 months per count, depending on the defendant’s prior record level. The requirement for sex offenders to register social media accounts was implemented to help law enforcement monitor digital behavior and prevent recidivism.
Next Steps
Poole’s case is expected to proceed through the Rutherford County court system. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and further restrictions under the state’s sex offender laws.
Here’s the full release from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office: “Suspect Arrested in Child Exploitation Case
On April 12, 2025 Officers with the Spindale Police Department got out with Danny Poole on the Rails to Trails Spindale. During the encounter, Officers obtained consent from Poole to look through his phone and tablet that was in his possession. While going through the phone and tablet, Officers noticed content on the devices that was consistent with CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material). Poole was arrested on unrelated charges to the images and content on the devices. The devices were seized at the time of arrest and a search warrant was obtained for the two devices. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division began an investigation into the content on the devices that were seized from Poole. After a full extraction was completed on the devices, it was discovered that Poole had multiple images consistent with CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) on the devices. On May 9, 2025 Danny Lee Poole Jr. was arrested in Cleveland County for the charges taken out by Rutherford County Investigators. Custody of Poole was turned over to Rutherford County and he is currently incarcerated in the Rutherford County Detention Center. On June 23, 2025 the case was presented to a Grand Jury in Rutherford County and Indictments were returned in the case. Danny Lee Poole Jr. has been charged with 10 counts of 3rd Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor as well as 1 count of Failure to Register a Social Media Account as a Sex Offender. He is currently being held under a $300,000 secured bond. Poole has been on the Sex Offender Registry since March of 2025. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Spindale Police Department for their swift action at the beginning of this incident. This is just another example of teamwork leading to successful cases!”
NC Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) data shows Poole was originally sentenced to 18 years and 9 months in 2010 for a conviction of first-degree sexual offense with a child. He was released early after serving approximately 15 years.
Each of the new charges carries a potential sentence of several years in prison. His next court date is July 16, according to NC Judicial Branch public records.
Why is it called CSAM instead of child pornography?
“While the term child pornography is still widely used by the public, it’s more accurate to call it what it is: evidence of child sexual abuse,” according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). In 2022, RAINN and other nonprofits stopped using the term child pornography and switched to referring to it as CSAM — child sexual abuse materials. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has used CSAM since 2023, according to public records.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available. Stay with Cops & Congress for continued coverage of public safety, criminal accountability, and community impact across western North Carolina.
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress Commentary
Why the Trail Detail Matters: A Public Safety Wake-Up Call on the Thermal Belt Rail Trail
Back in May, Cops & Congress was the only news outlet to report on the arrest of Poole. But one critical detail only came to light this week: the initial encounter that led to his arrest happened on the Thermal Belt Rail Trail — specifically, in Spindale.
As someone who bikes the trail regularly — though rarely in Spindale due to its reputation for crime (and I’ve covered those cases) — I find this detail important not just for the story, but for public safety and accountability. Here's why:
1. The Public Has a Right to Know Where Crimes Happen — Especially in Shared Spaces
The Thermal Belt Rail Trail is a public asset used by families, children, adults, seniors, and cyclists across Rutherford County. When a registered sex offender is found carrying illegal content on that trail, it’s not just a criminal case — it’s a public safety concern. The fact that Spindale Police made contact with Poole on April 12 and failed to publicly disclose that this occurred on the trail raises questions. People deserve to know where these encounters happen, particularly in areas that are meant to be safe and accessible to everyone.
2. The Thermal Belt Rail Trail Is Under Scrutiny — for good reason
This isn't the first time the Spindale portion of the trail has raised eyebrows. I've covered other troubling incidents there, including a shooting and an assault. If we don't connect the dots between crime and location, we risk letting these concerns be dismissed as anecdotal or exaggerated. This case proves otherwise. And when public agencies withhold that information, it creates a blind spot for community members trying to make informed decisions.
3. Transparency Shouldn’t Take Three Months
I believe Spindale Police should have publicly released this information much sooner. The fact that they did not mention the location publicly is deeply disappointing. However, credit is due to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office for doing the right thing this week by naming the location of the incident in their latest release. That’s how public trust is built — through transparency, even when the news is uncomfortable.
Bottom line: This is about more than one arrest. It’s about how law enforcement communicates risk, how government agencies coordinate for the public good, and how we protect shared community spaces.
I’ll keep biking — but I’ll keep reporting, too. Because these details matter.
🏛️ All those mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
